For Little Historians & Young Explorers

When Santa is flying over the Southern bayou and his stomach growls, little Viola invites him down for some of her mother's gumbo. But wait--now Santa has eaten it all! Young readers will delight in the Christmas magic that Santa brings to the empty gumbo pot, making sure it never runs low again.

Believed to have originated in twelfth-century France, the king cake tradition is an homage to the wise men (three kings). In New Orleans, as in Europe, a charm or plastic baby is hidden inside the cake and whoever finds the treasure is crowned king or queen for the day. The unofficial regent is also expected to host the next king cake party--or at least provide the cake! So, of course, everyone asks "Who got the baby in the king cake?" Downing's hand-cut colorful collage illustrations accompany her original song in this joyous story designed to entertain and educate kids of all ages. The full song, and many others celebrating her Louisiana home, can be found on her album Swamp Romp: A Louisiana Dance Party for Children.

Adaleigh, a young Cajun girl, has the envie for her grandmother's chicken and sausage gumbo. But there is a problem. It's summer, and Mamere does not cook her gumbo until the weather has just the right chill in the air. Adaleigh tries various get-gumbo techniques, including learning to ask for it in French, but she will have to wait. This picture book for young readers, peppered with Cajun words, celebrates the Cajun culture and the importance of generational bonds.

Playful, bouncing rhymes and bright, colorful illustrations guide young readers as they eat their way through the peachiest state in the nation. Pecan pie, fried chicken, shrimp and grits, okra, collard greens, BBQ, and every Georgia treat a child can desire fuel imaginations in this region-by-region tour of the Goober State. (Did you know a goober is a peanut?) During their exploration, children encounter history, landmarks, geography, and more. So sit back with a juicy peach and bag of hot boiled peanuts and get to know the greatest state around.

Way down at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, a very special flamingo stood out among his krewe. For he was not just pink but red, yellow, purple, green, and even orange. Could it be from all the delicious foods that New Orleans has to offer? Young readers will eat their way through the city with Rainbow Rodney in this celebration of classic Crescent City dishes.

It’s Christmas time in Louisiana! This year Elise and her mother are traveling from New Orleans to join her family in Natchitoches to celebrate the season in a very special way.

Along north Louisiana’s Cane River, holiday traditions include parades—even a boat parade!—along the river and a Christmas festival with arts and crafts and carolers singing. The light-bedecked city of Natchitoches enchants Elise. Christmas lights blink from every lamppost and storefront. The twinkling colors are reflected in the river, and fireworks light up the sky. The sugary scent of funnel cakes and cotton candy saturates the evening breeze. But Elise’s favorite holiday treat is the famous Natchitoches meat pie that Maw-Maw sells at her festival booth every year. Can you guess her secret ingredient?

Natchitoches, Louisiana’s oldest city, has celebrated the Christmas season with a festival for a century. Today, the Natchitoches Christmas Festival lasts six weeks long and features hundreds of thousands of lights, days of entertainment for children and adults, and visits from Santa. And everyone’s favorite festival food? The Natchitoches meat pie, of course! The official recipe for this yummy snack concludes the tale of Elise’s family Christmas.

It’s time to make gumbo, but Greta’s dad needs groceries and her baby brother is fussy. As her frazzled dad shops for gumbo ingredients, he doesn’t notice when Greta, determined to calm her brother, summons the help of a hyperactive monkey, a curious rabbit, and a frozen penguin. The baby laughs. But when a grunting elephant and a lumbering bear cause chaos, the baby wails. Yikes! Can Greta calm the baby and help Dad get groceries for Greta’s gumbo? Imagination rules in this fun story for young readers.

When Mama Witch concocts a special Halloween soup for her Little Witch, she adds eye of newt, spit of bug, and hair of slug. But Little Witch turns up her tiny nose at the culinary creation. She prefers such sticky sweets as butter toffee, caramel dandy, and cotton candy. Can these picky eaters come to a compromise? Complete with a recipe for Halloween soup, this fun read is a treat for children and parents alike.

A Louisiana 'gator chomps his way through gumbo, po' boys, beignets, sno-balls, and more in this culinary counting tour of Bayou flavors. As his appetite grows, so do his counting skills in this adventurous meal of multiple dishes for the very young.

"Whimsical artist Paul Schexnayder takes us on a delightful road trip through Louisiana with two festive gators. I can't think of a better way to teach Louisiana geography, not to mention our unique culture."--Cheré Dastugue Coen, author of Exploring Cajun Country: A Tour of Historic Acadiana

"A wonderful read-aloud storybook that will delight young readers and their entire family. Paul Schexnayder has a great talent for combining fun language and enchanting, colorful illustrations."--Lorraine Kingston, Books Along the Teche

Meet Fran and Van Harahan! This spicy alligator couple travel the state of Louisiana, makin' groceries for a gumbo. In their boat, they pick up rice in Crowley, sausage in Lafayette, and wild game in Shreveport and Monroe. As Fran and Van explore from the Red River to Bayou Teche and down along the old Mississippi, delighting in the delicious ingredients they find along the way, they introduce young readers to the waterways and byways of the Bayou State. Follow along as these Gumbo Gators make a gumbo fit for the whole state of Louisiana! The book is complete with a Cajun-French glossary. Author and illustrator Paul Schexnayder captures a local's perspective of his home state with his playful, folk-art-style illustrations.

A crazy Italian joint makes a tasty read! Reading in the mixed-up Italian restaurant is one of Jake's favorite things to do! Whether they play with food or dig into a good book, Jake and his uncle always have an amusing and delicious time. Juggling ravioli, bowling with mozzarella balls, or playing spaghetti pick-up sticks are just a few of the fun games Jake and his uncle invent. As much as Jake enjoys these culinary amusements, he could just as easily devour a good read. When his uncle's restaurant needs a neighbor, Jake must find the perfect fit. But who is willing to work next to such a crazy joint? Filled with reading, ravioli, and resolve, this is a story for any family who plays and reads together.

Ky-Anne's chili is so lip-smacking good that everyone, down to the ants, wants it. But the queen is no match for this girl, who outsmarts them all and gives herself a new tale to tell. A chili recipe and fire-ant facts are included in this tantalizing picture book for young readers.