Since 1926, Pelican Publishing Company has been committed to publishing books of quality and permanence that enrich the lives of those who read them.
Country & Ethnic
Drawing on the rich oral tradition of the Cajun people, Cajun Folktales collects six of the best children’s stories that have been passed down from generation to generation. Told in the tradition of Brer Rabbit, these stories are accompanied by the beautiful illustrations of Patrick Soper. Hardcover.
Children will be captivated by Cendrillon’s New Orleans setting and vibrant narration. While the essence of the original story remains, the influence of New Orleans is evident throughout.
Take Little Red Riding Hood and drop her in the middle of the Louisiana bayou, and she magically transforms into Petite Rouge!
The folk tales of the Vietnamese culture are extremely important, as they depict the creation of their people and their traditions. Here, some of the favorite tales of the Children of the Dragon are researched and retold for a modern audience with grace and a touch of humor.
The charming tale begins in Claddagh, Ireland, with the love of Richard and Nuala, who wish to be married but cannot afford to do so. Richard, in turn, leaves Claddagh in search of his fortune, and along the way, his ship is taken over by pirates. Richard is sold as a slave, and many years pass before he is able to return to Claddagh. Much to his surprise, he finds Nuala still waiting for him.
Lapin, the clever rabbit, his friend Bouki, the slow-witted wolf, and their friends encounter adventure, competition, and romance throughout the bayous of Louisiana in this collection of entertaining and educational tales.
This is the French Language version of Cajun Folktales.
A tale of trickery and greed, pirogues and buried treasure, will o’ the wisps and dancing light—The Fifolet tells of a fire sprite who exists all over the globe. But nowhere does the sprite burn as bright as in the black swamps of Cajun bayou. Legend says if you see a fifolet, a blue flame of light, you may just disappear. Where do you go? Nobody knows—nobody except maybe Jean Paul Pierre.
Baku the crocodile and Taki the monkey are back in a second tale of friendship, loyalty, honesty, and trust. Baku ruined his friendship with Taki by trying to steal his heart and lost the approval of his village for not returning with it. Now he needs Taki’s help to cure the Mighty One, leader of all crocodiles, who is terribly ill.
How important is loyalty in a friendship? Baku the crocodile finds out in this charming fable set in Kenya. Children will learn the need for trust between friends as they enjoy this delightful tale with its brilliantly colored illustrations. The Heart of a Friendship can be used to teach children problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Hardcover.
While artist Luz-Maria Lopez was growing up in Honduras, her grandmother would share stories about her Mayan ancestors, such as the legend of the finger people. The tale begins with the lonely gods in heaven. Though they created flowers and beasts to roam the forest, they lacked companionship. They created a man out of clay, but he melted. A man made of wood caught fire, and a man made of gold lacked an appreciation for nature’s beauty.
In the first of the two stories on this double CD, Jolie Blonde decides to rôder (travel) along the bayou. Before long, this Cajun Goldilocks begins to get tired. When she reaches the Héberts’ home, delicious aromas welcome her into the empty house, where she finds three bowls of Mama Hébert’s gumbo. Listeners will learn which bowl tastes bon to Jolie Blonde as they meet the three Héberts, POOH-YI! (Oh, my!)
The three little Cajun pigs—’Ti Joe, ’Ti Claude, and ’Ti Frère—build houses out of oyster shells, rice, and sugarcane in hopes that the local loup-garou (wolf) will not get inside and eat them for his cochon du lait (pig roast). How will these three brothers make out? As ’Ti Joe always says, “Vouloir c’est pouvoir” (Where there’s a will, there’s a way).
Combine classic Mother Goose with a South Louisiana Acadian setting and the artistry of renowned Cajun humorist Justin Wilson, and the result is a captivating book that will delight children and adults of all ages. Hardcover.
This Mother Goose-goes-to-the-swamp audio has authentic Cajun characters, ranging from Oyster Man and Jacques and Jill to Petite Rouge Riding Hood. This glimpse into south Louisiana’s Cajun traditions is filled with unique dialect and ongoing humor. Familiar rhymes such as “To Market,” “Pat-A-Cake” and “Little Boy Blue” are flavored with the same cultural flair.
Louisiana Indian Tales vividly recreates the struggles and triumphs of the state’s first inhabitants. Dating back to 10,000 b.c. when the Paleo-Indians occupied the area and huge woolly mammoths and mastodons roamed the land, these poignant stories are based on archaeological evidence and historical knowledge traced through modern-day findings. Hardcover.
This delightfully entertaining story introduces the reader to Meghan and Sean O’Sullivan, their three grandaunties, and Lucky O’Leprechaun, who has pestered the O’Sullivans since the time of the Vikings. Hardcover.
Legend has it that most leprechauns are content spending their days counting their gold and playing tricks on unsuspecting mortals in Ireland, the land of their birth. A few have managed, intentionally or not, to find their way to America. This delightful follow-up story to Lucky O’Leprechaun introduces young readers to the O’Sullivan family and the leprechaun who has pestered them since the time of the Vikings. Hardcover.
The adventure never ends when Lucky O’Leprechaun is around. Returning for a third adventure, Jana Dillon’s lively trickster inadvertently helps a little boy adjust to a new school. Hardcover.
Nestled in the branches of southern cypress and oak trees is a natural wonder with a magical origin. Its story began when a flood raged through the bayous of South Louisiana. There, a mother and her two children sought shelter from a storm in the branches of a cypress tree. Late that night, the mother asked the moon to keep her sleeping children warm. Moon talked to Stars, Stars talked to Clouds, and when these celestial bodies joined forces, they did more than just save one mother and her children. Moon’s Cloud Blanket is a Native American legend from the Houma people of South Louisiana. Hardcover.