A carousel alligator goes on a courageous journey to find a place with real alligators--and a wonderful, familiar sound--in this moving and modest story. Full color.

Reality is stranger than reality TV. When Tony Battaglia wakes up after his successful heart transplant, he's expecting a new lease on life. Even after a decade of stitching together the most ridiculous footage on the most outrageous reality shows, the reality-TV editor could never have expected that his new heart was formerly owned by "Gator Guys" star Lonnie Lalonde Junior. The development puts Tony on the wrong side of the camera, involved in the plot of the show-and with a murder mystery. The official story was that Lonnie Junior slipped and fell. But after heading south and arriving in Blackwater, Cajun Country, Tony discovers that things aren't as simple as they seem-especially after he finds a bit of cast-off footage showing someone else at the scene of the accident. Convinced that Lonnie Junior has been murdered, area weirdo, AirBnB host and "Gator Guys" cast member Fudgeround Arcenaux convinces Tony to help him investigate the case. As Tony gets more and more involved with Lonnie's family and Lonnie's ex-girlfriend (and former child star) Chelsea Granger, all signs start to point to infamous rage-aholic Travis Richardson, who just happens to be a cast member of the nation's most popular Louisiana-set reality show, "Mallard Men." After Travis is named the prime suspect, he disappears into the swamp, looking guiltier by the minute. And the town of Blackwater becomes home to a media feeding frenzy and a possible family feud between the Richardsons of "Mallard Men" and the cast of "Gator Guys." Behind the scenes, a powerful Southern politician, Senator Ronald Birch, and scheming reality-show producer Barry Steves are pulling the strings. And reality wanna-be Brit Borders just might be involved somehow. But Fudgeround becomes convinced he and Tony just might be looking in the wrong direction-especially after a mob heads out into the swamp to hunt down Travis Richardson and Brit ends up dead. Knowing only that there are bigger forces at play, they set out to find the real culprit before shooting the next season-and the next victim-starts.

Duck, a carousel animal obsessed with flying, longs to soar among the real ducks and finds her life forever changed when she encounters a lost little duckling who needs her help.

Taking a decade-by-decade approach to the University of Florida football tradition, this collection brings together over 40 stories from the most outstanding voices of the program. The spirit of Gators football is not captured by just one phrase, one season, or one particular game; instead, the student-athletes and coaches who made the magic happen over the decades blend their experiences to capture the true essence of their beloved school. From Danny Wuerfful and the shotgun formation in the Sugar Bowl to Tim Tebow and his transition to a full-time starter as a sophomore, Florida fans will relish the intimate stories told by the figures they have come to cherish.

When Harold, a large green alligator with a big mouth and an even bigger appetite, shows up at Irene's door seeking shelter, everyone hides. Except Max. Max persuades the other critters that this particular runaway needs their help. So while everyone keeps busy seeing that Harold remains well fed, Max cooks up a clever plan. But is a room filled with fake alligators enough to keep the zoo detective away?

David Langlinais weaves textured, evocative tales of family and outdoorsmanship, of the human struggle to find identity in an ever-changing landscape. Duck Thief and Other Stories--set mostly in Louisiana's southern parishes--is reminiscent of Ellen Gilchrist, with stories rich in the native culture and French patois. Langlinais's voice is clear, straight-forward and seemingly effortless. Pride, race, death, mental illness, infidelity--no subject is off-limits. Cajun narratives, as well as those taking place in big-city Texas, shine a light on characters trying to find their way through the world, to make sense of situations that make no sense at all.

What do you do with a 'gator after you catch it? EIizabeth Choate, from the History Channel's popular "Swamp People," has a few delicious ideas. And if you're not the adventurous type (think nutria, not to mention other types of swamp game of Louisiana), you'll love her takes on venison, duck and Cajun classics like shrimp, jambalaya, crawfish and gumbo, as well as downhome staples like fried pork chops, potato salad and 7-Up cake. With 100 recipes, the Queen has something for all her fans. ELIZABETH CHOATE hunts alligators in "Swamp People," which airs on The History Channel. She lives in Pecan Island, Louisiana.