Louisiana

With a true journalistic tone, Keith delivers an unparalleled account of the murder of Louisiana's political advertiser Jim Leslie and the case against Shreveport's corrupt police commissioner George D'Artois. Keith, who covered the crimes as a reporter for the Shreveport Times, recalls firsthand the tumultuous investigation of D'Artois and his plan to bring mob boss Carlos Marcello's organized crime to Shreveport. The Commissioner is a gripping description of Keith's personal experiences involving Leslie's assassination and the five courageous lawmen who struggled to stop D'Artois' tyranny.

Seventy-seven home-style shrimp recipes are interspersed with historical, biological, and food preparation advice. From an inside look at the seafood industry in Louisiana, past and present, to techniques on how to identify fresh shrimp at the local market, this complete resource includes all the information shrimp lovers need. Taking readers from the shrimp boat to the table, the authors share the art of catching, buying, peeling, storing, freezing, and thawing shrimp so that they can be turned into a delicious dish.

The bivalve lover's guide to Louisiana's best oysters. From the brackish bayous of Louisiana to the tables of some of the most beloved restaurants around the country, P&J oysters are among the best in the industry. Featuring recipes for oysters on the half shell, oyster appetizers, baked oysters, and grilled oysters, this lavish cookbook includes a history of the legendary P&J Oyster Company, tantalizing photographs of prepared oyster dishes, and shots of oysters in their native beds during the harvesting process.

Jenny Giraffe is all set for the big Christmas parade, the caroling, and especially, the arrival of Papa Noel. But Jenny has never experienced the holiday season and hasn’t any idea what Christmas is all about or even who Papa Noel is! Luckily, her friends T-Boy, Lita, Claude, and Angelle are going to teach her all about the joyous season through the special Christmastime celebrations in Louisiana.

Jenny Giraffe Discovers Papa Noel brings the holiday spirit to homes everywhere through the fun-loving adventures of everyone’s favorite four-legged artist. From the celebrated Christmas parade to the tradition of the Christmas tree to the story of Baby Jesus’ birth, Jenny learns to appreciate the excitement and love of the season. She even gets to participate in some truly unique Louisiana festivities like the lighting of the bonfires along the river to guide Papa Noel on his route to deliver his gifts. But Jenny is still puzzled about who this jolly man is and why it is that some people call him Santa Claus. Perhaps only on Christmas Eve will everything become much clearer.

When a hungry raccoon gets trapped in a spiderweb, Clovis urges his friends to abandon their fear of Raoul and help him out of a sticky situation.

Deep in the heart of the Louisiana swamp, there lives a poor fur trapper, his second wife, and his twins. The stepmother has a plan to leave the children in the swamp to ease the family's financial problems. See how the Cajun Hansel and Gretel outsmart her plan and escape from the witch who lures them into her cottage.

Award-winning author and illustrator duo Ed Shankman and Dave O'Neill turn to the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans, Louisiana! Jazz, of course, is the only truly American form of music, born from a meeting and mixing of cultures where the mighty Mississippi meets the Gulf of Mexico. Drummer Bobcat Bob leads a hot band of multi-cultural musicians, featuring a gator on bass, a finger-snapping frog, and a horn section made up of raccoons, a crayfish, and some loons. Bobcat Bob's band is known for miles around - They played like wind. They played like fire. They raised the roof, and raised it higher. They played all night and weren't done, 'Til morning came and they raised the sun. But one day the music stopped and the great New Orleans lost its voice. Through months of darkness and sadness the people wished that things were like before. And with a single drum beat on Bourbon Street, and then another, and another, the music came back to New Orleans, better than ever! Children and parents alike will love this story about the healing power of music.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation.

Some may think gumbo is simply a delicious stew, but down in Cajun country we know a gumbo is so much more. The magic of history, family tradition, local customs, and bayou seasoning meld to created a swirling wonder of flavor that enchants the senses and reminds us of home. It is just such an aroma that entices George as he wanders through the bayou on a lazy afternoon.

George follows his nose and meets the mystical Nanny, who seems right at home in the swamp under the ancient oak trees. There Nanny and George prepare a gumbo as rich in music, stories, laughter, and Cajun secrets - for everything finds its way into a gumbo. As they dice, chop, and stir, she will teach him how to put together the most important of Cajun dishes and impart a few lessons about life along the way. A simple gumbo recipe completes George's bayou adventure and allows young readers (and parents) to sample a delectable bite of Cajun heritage. Written and Illustrated by Alexis Braud.

Nana loves to make Kole magical green dinosaur pancakes for breakfast. In Green Dinosaur Pancakes Kole discovered Nana’s pancakes come to life and the strongest survive their morning spats! In this sequel, the green T-Rex just won’t leave Kole alone. When Kole encounters a school bully, the prehistoric pancake helps him out of a sticky situation. In this anti-bullying tale, Kole and the green reptile stand up to the bully and learn that a little kindness can go a long way and that friends can come from the most unexpected places. Author Kat Pigott offers a timely lesson and talented teenage artist Mason Sibley provides appealing characters in this entertaining story.

A curse is no match for a generous heart.

Once upon a time on New Year's Eve night, hundreds of suitors lined up to kiss the graceful hands of Mademoiselle Grands Doigts. Jealous of the lovely maiden, the other girls cast a terrible gris gris turning her into a creature with long gnarled fingers and warts. Ashamed, she vanished, never to be seen again. The resentful girls turned as green as their hearts and fled to the swamp. Now, every New Year's Eve, Mademoiselle Grands Doigts finds nice children and fills their shoes with treats proving pretty is as pretty does. Johnette Downing deftly weaves this slightly scary Cajun morality tale accompanied by the moody colors of Heather Stanley's luscious illustrations.

When is enough really enough?

Bon Dieu! In this Cajun take on a Brothers Grimm classic, can you ever have too much of a good thing? When fisherman Paul catches a talking fish, it promises to grant him a wish if he lets it go. As proof, the supernatural sac-à-lait piles crawfish into his boat. Paul returns home with his reward. It seems his wife is just not satisfied! She dreams up progressively outlandish demands each time he returns home. Eventually everyone learns that you must be careful what you wish for if you want to hang on to what's really important. In this third collaboration between author Connie Collins Morgan and illustrator Herb Leonhard, the wonderfully woven tale is brought to life with moody and expressive images with a Louisiana flair. Readers of all ages will delight in this soon-to-be classic Cajun tale!

“In Lindsley’s vigorously brushed rural scenes, the comically gesticulating red rooster often occupies the foreground as, behind, a multiracial procession of revelers in colorful festival costume goes from farm to farm begging for a handout.”
—Kirkus

With her trademark lyricism, Louisiana musician and author Johnette Downing draws readers through an Acadian landscape. This brand-new tale introduces a cagey rooster who vows not to be in the communal gumbo pot this Courir de Mardi Gras. Downing provides a glossary of traditional French-Cajun words used in the story and a delicious recipe for gumbo z’herbes .

Award-winning musician and author Johnette Downing has performed on five continents. Her book Petit Pierre and the Floating Marsh represented the State of Louisiana in the Pavilion of States at the 2016 National Book Festival.

A relative of Dennis (Denus) McGee, the Cajun musician whose grave is a traditional stop on the Courir de Mardi Gras, Jennifer Lindsley works with all ages, introducing them to the pleasures of creativity.

Johnette Downing stays true to her Louisiana roots in her newest book, featuring a young pelican searching for his proper home. As Petit Pierre journeys across the wetlands, he asks each creature where he should live. He accumulates gifts from them until he realizes the wetlands are home to all his friends and, just maybe, to Pierre as well!

Within the luscious illustrations are facts about the denizens of the wetlands and how each reader can make a difference in preserving and protecting the wetlands for generations to come. Proceeds from this book, created in partnership with the Audubon Nature Institute and the New Orleans Pelicans, fund wetland education programs.

A lullaby from the beautiful bayou. As the crickets chirp, frogs sing, and mosquitoes drone, dusk falls across the bayou. Mama rocks her baby to the soft symphony as the animals get ready for bedtime. Illustrated in beautifully detailed cut paper, this soothing chorus introduces children to animal sounds and lures them into peaceful slumber.

Get ready to stomp and chomp to that mambo beat! When carnival time rolls into New Orleans, these hip dinosaurs want to boogie on down. Iguanodon wiggles to the music of a marching band, while Zigongosaurus dances zydeco and Pterodactyal swoops into the crowd. From singing tunes and tossing beads, these big beasts sure know how to party. Laissez les bon temps rugir!

A young reader's introduction to the Pelican State!

Learn the history of Louisiana with this book by award-winning musician Johnette Downing. Once again, she honors the cultural heritage and traditions of the South through her music and literature. Accompanied by stunningly accurate illustrations, Downing takes you through a tour of the state's famous symbols. Did you know that the crawfish is the state crustacean? Or that the Catahoula is the state dog? And what is more emblematic of Louisiana than gumbo and sweet beignets? All this and more is revealed in this charming picture book, brimming with rich illustrations. A timeline, which lists when these icons were named, and original song compliment the text and enhance the book's classroom applications.

"Reading Mr. Okra Sells Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, wonderful memories came running through my mind like a river. Being born in New Orleans, the people selling fruits and vegetables were a big part of the community I lived in. This book also brings to life the beauty and history of the city."

When Mr. Okra drives by in his iconic, painted truck piled high with garden-fresh fruits and vegetables, people hear him calling his wares. Mr. Okra's asparagus is rounded like the steeples of St. Louis Cathedral, and his eggplants are as dark as the coffee at Café du Monde. Bright illustrations of tasty, healthy food pop from the pages of this mouthwatering romp around familiar New Orleans locations. Readers follow the beloved local and his truck as he brings food and song to the city.