Roux's Special Gift - by J Steven Spires & Allison P Murphy (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Surrounded by the waters of the Mississippi, the blooming magnolias, and the buzzing mosquitoes, a solitary raccoon made his home in a cypress trunk.

As yet another Christmas approached with no friends to share the holiday season, Roux vowed to make a change. He built a tall bonfire, in the Cajun tradition, in hopes that Papa Noel would see the warm light of the flames on his Christmas Eve flight.

Roux tucked himself into bed that cold, lonely night with not an inkling that Santa would indeed stop by his swampy abode. The jolly man in red brought gifts for the raccoon who had been nice all year, but gifts, he knew, were not what would bring little Roux cheer. As Santa set off to continue his Christmas Eve rounds, he scoured the bayous and towns for what would make Roux's holiday complete. Can Santa find the perfect present to save Roux's Christmas?

This heartwarming story about the power of hope and the magic of friendship is sure to brighten your holiday reading. Children will enjoy this story of an unlikely friendship set in the southern swamps that references customs and traditions familiar to the littlest Cajuns. A recipe for Roux's Bayou Stew completes this special tale.

About the Author

Allison P. Murphy has always favored Christmas over every other holiday, not because of the gifts under the tree but because of the people in her life surrounding it. Allison grew up in Slidell, Louisiana, near the Honey Island Swamp, where she began fishing and swimming in the bayou at a young age. Allison has many hobbies that include writing, traveling, shopping, and being outdoors. Allison is pursuing her bachelor's degree at Southeastern University in hopes to become a teacher one day to bring her love of reading to the classroom. Visit her online at www.allisonpmurphy.com.

J. Steven Spires was a die-hard fan of Santa Claus as a kid and still hears "bells" to this day. He spent thirty-one wonderful years in third grade (as a teacher, of course) before turning in his Expo Markers and whiteboard to write stories. His published works, Three Little Shrimp, Three Little Crawfish, and The Oak Tree, have taken readers young and old on memorable journeys since 2013. He is the proud father of five adult children and now enjoys playing with his three energetic grandchildren and his two cats, Holly and Honey. He also loves traveling to new countries and thinking about age-old questions like "Why did the chicken cross the road?" while sipping his British tea. He lives with his wife in Slidell, Louisiana. Visit him online at www.jstevenspirescba.com.

Chloe Salvatore (chloesalvatoreart.com) grew up on farmland in a small town outside of Franklin, Tennessee. Throughout her childhood, she enjoyed playing outdoors, playing the piano, and drawing. She has always loved creating art and has won multiple awards for her work. She enjoys honing her craft by exploring different mediums and styles such as sketching, painting, design, and ceramics. She is now pursuing a degree in graphic design.