Children’s Christmas Books

WITH LOUISIANA FLAIR

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CALLIE HEARNSBERGER CARTER WITH CALLIE JO PHOTOGRAPHY

Christmas is the most magical time of the year. We look forward to the lights, the decorations, the gifts, the celebrations. For every age, there is no denying the joy that this season brings.

ne of the most beloved holiday traditions Ois snuggling up with a cup of hot chocolate to read a favorite Christmas book with the kiddos.

Lucky for us, the great state of Louisiana has its own collection of Christmas favorites that spice up the culture and fun of the holiday season.

WRITTEN BY TERRI HOOVER DUNHAM

Around the world Santa Claus has many names, but in a deep, swampy bayou of Louisiana, he’s known as Papa Noël. In such a hot and humid place, there can be no sleds or reindeer, so Papa Noël rides the river in a boat that’s pulled by eight alligators, with a snowy white one named Nicollette in the lead. On this particular Christmas Eve, it’s so foggy on the river that even Nicollette’s magical glowing-green eyes may not be enough to guide Papa Noël. The alligators are tired, grumpy and bruised from banging into cypress trees, and Papa is desperate to get all the gifts to the little children. Well, “quicker than a snake shimmies down the river,” the clever Cajun people come up with a solution that saves the day.

Santa is Coming to Louisiana

WRITTEN BY STEVE SMALLMAN

It’s Christmas Eve. Have you been good? Santa’s packed up all the presents and is headed your way! With the help of a certain red-nosed reindeer, Santa flies over many landmarks in Louisiana!

“Ho, ho, ho!” laughs Santa. “Merry Christmas, Louisiana!”

Santa’s Sleigh is on its way to Louisiana

WRITTEN BY ERIC JAMES

It’s a magical Christmas Eve, and all the children in your town are sleeping. Well, all the children but you! How could you possibly fall asleep when you know Santa and his sleigh are on their way?

Gaston the GreenNosed Alligator

WRITTEN BY JAMES RICE nprepared for his yearly trek

Ubecause of a series of problems, a perplexed Santa sees Gaston in flightsuddenly the friendly alligator is employed to help save Christmas Eve. Gaston, the intrepid, green-nosed alligator from the bayou, ventures far and wide to satisfy his wanderlust. Gaston’s creator, James Rice, wrote and illustrated nine books featuring the friendly swamp creature.

The Cajun Night Before Christmas

WRITTEN BY “TROSCLAIR”

The well-loved Christmas classic “The Night Before Christmas” with a Cajun twist, The Cajun Night Before Christmas has been a part of Louisiana’s holiday traditions since it was first published. Now, more than forty-five years later, it continues to be must have in the homes of Louisiana children.

The Cajun Night After Christmas

WRITTEN BY AMY DIXON rifting down the bayou the night

Dafter Christmas, Boudreau discovers a fat alligator named Pierre, whom he takes home as a pet. The Boudreau children give Pierre their full attention, much to Pierre’s dismay, but in the end, it’s a very happy Cajun night after Christmas all through the year!

The Twelve Days of Christmas in Louisiana

WRITTEN BY JEAN CASSELS

Rosalie is sending her cousin Paul a ticket to come to Louisiana for the twelve days of Christmas—and that’s a very special time there, because Christmas doesn’t really end in New Orleans until Twelfth Night, January 6th. And that very same evening, Carnival, with its joyful parades and gorgeous costumes, begins.