This image is the cover for the book Gaston Goes to the Kentucky Derby, Gaston Series

Gaston Goes to the Kentucky Derby, Gaston Series

“The story is done in rhyme, which makes it great to read aloud. The colorful illustrations are just delightful, each covering two pages, thus giving a powerful sense of movement to the story.”

—Children’s Literature

James Rice (1934-2004), known foremost as the illustrative master behind Cajun Night Before Christmas®, amuses and educates children all over the country through his work. One of his hallmarks has been the creation of recurring characters from his Christmas stories to his cowboy legends. But among them all, no character attracts as much attention as the bayou alligator Gaston, whose numerous adventures introduce children to many aspects of the world around them.

This time Gaston® leaves the Louisiana bayous atop a Cajun steed named Black Lightning. Their destination is the world-famous Churchill Downs racetrack, home of the Kentucky Derby. The first jewel of the Triple Crown, this race is seen by millions either at the track or at home on television each year. Now through the lovable Gaston and his antics, children get to witness this American tradition as well.

Gaston® Goes to the Kentucky Derby teaches children about the grand festival of the Derby in Louisville and the challenges all the riders face to make it to the most esteemed horse race in the country. Peppered with humor and seasoned with Rice’s colorful artwork, this is a delightful volume for young and old and a must-have addition for anyone collecting Rice’s books.

James Rice

Author/illustrator James Rice (1934-2004) produced sixty books, including the illustrations for Pelican’s treasured The Night Before Christmas Series. Rice’s first book, the well-loved classic Cajun Night Before Christmas®, has more than 750,000 copies in print. Young readers can enjoy more of Gaston®’s adventures in Gaston® Goes to Mardi Gras and sample Rice’s other children’s stories with favorites such as Texas Jack at the Alamo. With more than 1.5 million copies of his books in print, Rice ranks among the nation’s best-selling creators of children’s books, receiving awards from Printer Industries of America and the Children’s Book Council, among others. Years after his death, Rice’s family found the art and text Gaston® Joins the Circus, and this discovery has brought Gaston® back for one more adventure!

Pelican Publishing