Gaston Goes to Mardi Gras (Gaston Series) [Hardcover]

James Rice (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 30, 1999 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Gaston Series

Gaston the green-nosed alligator has returned from the swamp and is taking adventurous readers on a tour of Mardi Gras.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Gaston the green-nosed alligator, who has delighted juvenile readers and the young at heart throughout the nation in a series of volumes, is back again--this time to take readers of all ages on an escorted tour of Carnival in New Orleans. This winsome denizen of Louisiana's bayou land was first introduced in 1973 as a feature character in the perennial best-selling Cajun Night Before Christmas, which depicts Santa's Christmas Eve flight through the swamp land. He leads the way on a similar journey in Gaston the Green-Nosed Alligator, and has many other adventures throughout the series. In this picturesque volume, the Deep South's favorite children's-book character travels to New Orleans to get a close look at the excitement and pageantry that characterize Mardi Gras. En route, Gaston drops in on a courir du Mardi Gras and fais-dodo in rural South Louisiana. Then, in New Orleans, he looks on as krewes build the beautiful floats for the lavish parades. Gaston soon finds himself caught up in the carefree merrymaking that is symbolic of the Carnival season each year in New Orleans. Parades are held by the krewes of the renowned Zulu, Rex, and others--and Gaston is there. Gaston also encounters the Jefferson City Buzzards marching group and the Boeuf Gras, and gives explanations of each. All events, parades, and ball sequences in this volume have been authenticated by the well-known Mardi Gras historian Leonard Huber, thus providing an accurate guide to Carnival festivities.

About the Author

James Rice is widely acclaimed as the South's leading author and illustrator of juvenile books. With more than one million copies of his books in print, he ranks among the nation's top authors and illustrators. Rice completed his M.F.A. at Stephen F. Austin State University. He holds degrees in art from the University of Texas and Howard Payne College and has taught art and music at both the high school and college levels.

James Rice, in his long, distinguished career as an author and illustrator, has produced fifty-plus childrenís books, among them illustrations for an addition to the Night Before Christmas series, Gullah Night Before Christmas. With more than a million and a half copies of his books in print, he ranks among the nationís best-selling creators of childrenís books.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing; 2 edition (November 30, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156554286X
• ISBN-13: 978-1565542860
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Alligators & Crocodiles

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for Teaching Elementary Age Students, February 7, 2005

By 

Loves teaching "ABC" (Cleveland, Ohio) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gaston Goes to Mardi Gras (Gaston Series) (Hardcover)

I used this book as my read aloud in a lesson plan on Mardi Gras. It is a great book. The illustrations are in purple, green, and gold and are just beautiful! Also, Gaston the alligator keeps the students' interest during the reading. Gaston is found on almost every page. In addition, there are many Mardi Gras traditions used in text. Examples are gumbo, fais-do-do, beads,parades, Boeuf Gras and King Cake. It was a great book to use for an anticipatory set of my lesson plan. I was able to transition into my teaching activities very smoothly after this interactive read aloud.
I plan on using this book in the years to come. I enjoyed reading it and the children enjoyed listening and learning from it!

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mardi Gras Fun for All!, November 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Gaston Goes to Mardi Gras Coloring Book (Gaston Series) (Paperback)

This colouring book version of James Rice's Mardi Gras classic, "Gaston Goes to Mardi Gras," is fun for the whole family. It can be used as a way to explain some of your family's traditions, or to prepare children for a family trip. The pictures can be coloured, cut out and used for party decorations. The story reminds me of my childhood, and the Carnivals of days gone by. Rice presents a short, but comprehensive overview of Carnival, and the major krewes, balls, and parades. I highly recomend this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative & educational, March 19, 2006

By 

L. Antry (Bensalem, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gaston Goes to Mardi Gras (Gaston Series) (Hardcover)

I bought this book for a recent preschool Mardi Gras party. I found the book informative & easy to understand. Even the youngest of my listeners (Age 3)were able to enjoy the story, as I supplemented it with visuals (beads, doubloons, masks). My only complaint would be the illustrations. I found the pictures to be more like an artist's view of the Mardi Gras scene, rather than easy to decipher, kid friendly pictures.