Thomas N. Turner is an assistant professor of education at the University of Tennessee, functioning as program area leader of holistic teaching/learning, which prepares elementary-school, special-education, and reading teachers. Turner has had over 2,000 articles published in professional journals and textbooks and served as editor of the Tennessee Association of Middle School Journals from 1995 to 2002. Turner is also the author of Hillbilly Night Afore Christmas , also published by Pelican. 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!