Alaskan Night Before Christmas (Night Before Christmas Series) - Hardcover

"I love this story of the time my Kotzebue the caribou landed on the `Naughty List'--but not for long! I'm so glad I gave Tricia and Alan those pads of paper, pencils, and art supplies so long ago. The dear children have put them to good use." --Santa Claus, North Pole, Alaska

"A delightful twist on Santa and his yearly Christmas journey! . . . All learn an important lesson about selfishness--a fun and educational story!" --Jack Hanna, director emeritus, Columbus Zoo, host, TV's Into the Wild Santa is back for another Christmas journey across the world, and this time, he is loading his sleigh under the brilliance of the Northern Lights in the chilly Alaskan air. Armed with an ice scraper and snuggled inside his heavy red coat, Saint Nick prepares the team of flying caribou.

But the lead caribou Kotz is determined to get attention this year. He's tired of people thinking that reindeer pull the sleigh, and he's alerted the media and sent out press releases across the globe, seeking recognition and fame. It's up to Santa and the gentle, selfless reindeer Star to teach Kotz the true meaning of Christmas and to bring toys to all the boys and girls of the world.

Each caribou is named for an Alaskan town, and the book contains a pronunciation guide and trivia about caribou, Eskimos, and Alaska. With beautiful imagery and flowing rhymes, Alaskan Night Before Christmas is a wonderful addition to any holiday collection.

"A delightful twist on Santa and his yearly Christmas journey! . . . All learn an important lesson about selfishness--a fun and educational story."
—Jack Hanna, director emeritus, Columbus Zoo, and TV host, Into the Wild

"Brown knows Alaska, and that knowledge--and affection--comes through in each word."
—Fairbanks (Alaska) Daily News-Miner

Deep in the heart of Alaska, where the weather is frigid and the northern lights shimmer, good ol' Saint Nick is getting ready for another Christmas ride across the world. But this story shares a secret--Santa's sleigh is pulled by a team of flying caribou!

Tired of the tales of Rudolph's heroics, lead caribou Kotz wants to set the record straight. This caribou wants the spotlight to be on him--not some tiny reindeer! While Kotz dreams about the glory that should be his, he leads the sleigh astray. Now, it's Santa's turn to teach this selfish caribou a lesson about giving, not taking.

Pelican's Night Before Christmas Series has taken readers of all ages from Santa's first ride in the swampy magic of James Rice's Cajun Night Before Christmas to the prehistoric Dinosaur's Night Before Christmas. Each story in this series uses humor and the familiar to remind us all of what Christmas truly means.