picture book

Sneak Peek at the Cover for the New Book Petit Pierre and His Wild Adventure

Petit Pierre is back at it again, and so are Heather Stanley and I in this sequel book to Petit Pierre and the Floating Marsh. Here is the sneak peek at the book cover for Petit Pierre and His Wild Adventure. In this adventure, Petit Pierre must learn the vital life skill for pelicans—plunge diving. Will he make it? Find out this fall 2024 when the book is released by Pelican Publishing.

Today is Monday in New York is now in Paperback!

Based on a popular song adapted by singer-songwriter Johnette Downing and illustrated by Deborah Ousley Kadair, the children's picture book Today is Monday in New York rhythmically takes young readers through a culinary calendar, describing a uniquely New York meal for each day of the week. On Monday there are upstate apples, on Wednesday there are Buffalo wings, on Saturday there is New York pizza, and so the story goes. Lucky children will also feast on culinary history with a Word Menu that explains each dish's significance to the state. Bright collage-style illustrations accompany this playful "singable" book.

Today is Monday in New York is part of a Today is Monday series by Downing and Kadair for Louisiana, Texas and Kentucky. The song for this book is on Downing's "Reading Rocks!" album for children here, and the accompanying book/music video will be on streaming services soon.

Mumbo Jumbo Has a New Cover!

Well, it was time for a reprint of my picture book Mumbo Jumbo, Stay Out of the Gumbo, illustrated by the amazing Jennifer Lindsley, and the publisher and art director (Pelican Publishing) thought it might be fun to give the cover more of a Mardi Gras feel. We also added the subtitle A Cajun Mardi Gras Tale, something I wished I had done before the first printing.

This book represented the State of Louisiana at the National Book Festival in Washington, D. C. in 2017, and Jennifer and I attended the event dressed in our Cajun Mardi Gras attire!

So, tah dah! Here is the new cover! The book is being printed as we speak and should be in stores in time for Mardi Gras season. You can preorder it now, and the books will be shipped when they arrive.

Happy very early Mardi Gras!

Press Copy of My Parrain is the Loup Garou is in!

I received the press copy of my new book My Parrian Is the Loup Garou, and it looks so good! Heather Stanley’s bold illustrations really set the swampy mood for this original Cajun tall tale about a boy and his Godfather as they go on wild adventures together, perhaps too good to be true. Books should be in by mid-September, and will be available in time for my book signings for the book launch as follows:

Saturday, October 7, 2023

  • 11:00 AM 12:30 PM

  • Blue Cypress Books, 8123 Oak Street, New Orleans, LA, 70118

Saturday, October 14, 2023

11:00 AM 12:30 PM

  • Garden District Books, 2727 Prytania Street, New Orleans, LA, 70130

Saturday, October 28, 2023

  • Time TBA

  • Louisiana Book Festival, State Library of Louisiana, 701 North 4th Street, Baton Rouge, LA, 70802

You can also pre-order copies on my website , through Amazon, or through the two bookstores listed above.

I hope to see you there!