It is the eve of the Bayou Classic, and a family of Southern University fans are filled with anticipation and blue-and-gold spirit. Find out what happens when an unexpected visitor arrives at their door.

A version in Cajun dialect of the famous poem "The Night Before Christmas," set in a Louisiana bayou.

Around the world Santa Claus has many names. But in a deep, swampy bayou of Louisiana, he's known as Papa Noël. In such a hot and humid place, there can be no sleds or reindeer, so Papa Noël rides the river in a boat that's pulled by eight alligators, with a snowy white one named Nicollette in the lead. On this particular Christmas Eve, it's so foggy on the river that even Nicollette's magical glowing-green eyes may not be enough to guide Papa Noël. The alligators are tired, grumpy and bruised from banging into cypress trees, and Papa is desperate to get all the gifts to the little children. Well, "quicker than a snake shimmies down the river," the clever Cajun people come up with a solution that saves the day. A colorfully inventive Christmas tale, Papa Noël is a lesson in fast thinking, as well as a witty introduction to a part of America that's rich in folklore and legend.

Fans of the greatest reindeer of all will have a double helping of Christmas fun with this collection, which includes the title story plus "Rudolph Shines Again." Near and dear to so many hearts, this is the story, the original story, of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, written by Robert L. May in 1939. Rudolph, loveable and generous, humble and good, embodies the spirit of Christmas, and reminds us of the magical possibilities that exist within us all. In the companion story, "Rudolph Shines Again," Rudolph loses his light and is certain he is of no use to Santa now; he decides to go far away, where no one knows how bright his nose used to be. But on his journey, something magical happens. As enchanting as the original story, Robert L. May's uplifting sequel to his classic tale Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a joyous celebration of the spirit of Christmas. Also included in the audio is a selection of holiday songs for kids to help you ring in the season: "Jingle Bells," "Up on the Housetop," "Deck the Halls," "Over the River and through the Woods," "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," and "O, Christmas Tree."

In New York Times bestselling author Karen Robards’s latest heart-pounding romantic suspense novel, a reckless former detective knows too much, and a hostage negotiator is forced to join him on the run for his life. ’Twas the night before Christmas…and dozens of rich, influential hostages are trapped inside a sprawling lakefront mansion in New Orleans. The perp? Detective Reed Ware, model cop turned outlaw. Reed’s out for truth and will stop at nothing to get it—including waging a coup among the city’s most elite, including the mayor, the council chairman, the sheriff, and the superintendent of police…who just happens to be hostage negotiator Caroline Wallace’s father. Cool, calm, controlled. That’s Caroline’s reputation. But when Reed, looking even hotter than he did years ago when seventeen-year-old Caroline tried to seduce him, becomes her next case, she’s swept up by their still-sizzling tension. Nothing about tonight is what it seems, and it’s up to Caroline to put the pieces together—if she can think fast enough over the pounding of her heart. But the harder Caroline tries to do her job, the more she begins to wonder whose side she’s really on.