May 2011

Craft: I Love You Little Monkey Paper Plate Mask – Thursday, May 19, 2011

by dlcasas on May 19, 2011

5-19-11 I Love You Little Monkey Paper Plate Mask

Friends:

Have fun monkeying around with this cute craft! It’s a paper plate monkey mask. Ooh ooh ooh, Eeh Eeh Eeh! Grab a big banana for me!

Supplies:
2 paper plates
Glue stick
Crayons
Pencil
Scissors
Cups – 1 small, 1 medium, and 1 large
Black marker – 1 fine tip and 1 thick tip
Jumbo craft or popsicle stick

Directions:
Color one of the paper plates brown. On the second paper plate, with a pencil, trace the small cup twice for the eyes. Then trace the medium cup twice for the ears. Finally trace the large cup once for the monkey’s mouth area. Make a black circle inside the eyes (small cup circles) for the pupils. Color the ears (medium cup circles) and the mouth area (large cup circle) a tan or beige color. Draw a C inside the left ear and a backwards C inside the right ear. Use the glue stick to attach to each side of the monkey’s head. Glue down the eyes and the mouth area. Next, with the thick tip black marker, make two dots inside the large circle for the monkey’s nose. Underneath, draw a curvy smile. To finish the monkey’s face, draw a semi-heart from one side of the top of the big circle to the other side. The dip of the heart should be between the monkey’s eyes. Write “I Love You, Little Monkey!” on the craft stick. Glue the stick to the bottom back of the paper plate. Now you’re swinging!

Here’s what I did with my mask… I placed it on the front door to greet my 10 year old daughter on her way to school. What a fun surprise!

5-19-11 I Love You Little Monkey Mask on the front door

I’m bananas about monkeys! How about you?!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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There’s a Dragon in the Library Book Event at Barnes & Noble, Mandeville, LA – Tuesday, May 17, 2011

by dlcasas on May 18, 2011

5-17-11 Dianne de Las Casas and her cast for There's a Dragon in the Library

Friends:

On Tuesday, I had a special presentation of There’s A Dragon in the Library at Barnes & Noble in Mandeville, Louisiana. It was my debut of the book in Mandeville. I had such a great crowd! Marita Gentry, the illustrator, was supposed to be there but unfortunately, she couldn’t make it. She did, however, send me signed artwork to give away and this lucky little girl won it!

5-17-11 It was a special day for this little cutie ... she graduated from kindergarten AND she won the Dewey the Dragon original art by Marita Gentry!

After my performance, the kids made Dewey the Dragon puppets. I love how these come out!

5-17-11 Little fan make Dewey the Dragon paper bag puppets from There's a Dragon in the Library

Here’s a close-up of the puppet and the precious little boy who made Dewey the Dragon!

5-17-11 What a cute little dragon with a cute little boy!

Thank you to Barnes & Noble Mandeville for hosting this wonderful event.

5-17-11 Dianne and a fan pose... Smile!

I had a great time with all the kids and look forward to returning in the Fall with my new books!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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The Cajun Cornbread Boy Book Event at Barnes & Noble – Saturday, May 14, 2011

by dlcasas on May 18, 2011

5-14-11 Signing books at Barnes & Noble in Metairie, LA for the St. Clement of Rome School book fair. Love The Cajun Cornbread Boy Artwork on the wall!

Friends:

On Saturday afternoon, I had a book event at Barnes & Noble in Metairie, Louisiana. It was a celebration of The Cajun Cornbread Boy.

5-14-11 The sign!

St. Clement of Rome School had a big crowd! They created wonderful artwork that adorned the wall behind the stage in the children’s section. I performed the story and we had a great time! Afterwards, I taught the kids how to make The Cajun Cornbread Boy’s Louisiana Cookbook, turning a single sheet of paper into a six-page book. Then they designed their own Cajun Cornbread Boy!

5-14-11 A fan designs her own Cajun Cornbread Boy!

Here is a fan who was caught reading! I love these moments when kids are full immersed in a book and the world around them ceases to exist… it’s magic!

5-14-11 Caught Reading! Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach at Barnes & Noble, Metairie, LA

Thank you, Barnes & Noble Metairie and St. Clement of Rome School! I had a ton of fun!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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International Reading Association Conference 2011, Orlando, FL – May 9-11, 2011

by dlcasas on May 14, 2011

5-10-11 Dianne de Las Casas signing books with Pelican at IRA 2011 in Orlando, FL

Friends:

This past week, I was in Orlando, Florida for the 2011 International Reading Association Conference. About 10,000 educators converged at the convention center for professional development, resources, and access to authors!

5-9-11 Dianne de Las Casas with a Filipina teacher at IRA 2011 in Orlando, FL

Even I had author fever! Here I am with the amazing team of Henry Cole and Lester Laminack, creators of the picture book, Three Hens and a Peacock. Henry is also the illustrator for the Big Chickens Go to Town books by Leslie Helakowski and a book he wrote, A Nest for Celeste, set in Louisiana.

5-9-11 Dianne de Las Casas with Illustrator Henry Cole and Author Lester Laminack at the Peachtree Booth

I even ran into one of my favorite book monkeys… Curious George! He gave me a free book too! Cool!

5-9-11 Dianne de Las Casas and Curious George!

On Day 2 of the conference, I signed books with Pelican Publishing. Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach proved extremely popular and it sold out! I met lots of incredible teachers who were sooo sweet!

5-10-11 Dianne de Las Casas and a sweet teacher at IRA

I made some wonderful new friends including a group from the Flagler School District in Florida. Becky Rich Ellis became my new BFF. We went to dinner and even hung out! We had drinks with my close friend and amazing YA author Ellen Hopkins (Crank, Burned, Glass, Identical), Toni DiTerlizzi (The Spiderwick Chronicles), Angela DiTerlizzi (Say What?) Justin Chanda (Publisher, Simon & Schuster), and Brandon Mull (The Fablehaven series). I can’t believe I didn’t remember to take pictures, especially with my friend, Ellen!! Sadness. But I did get an awesome picture with Becky. Happiness!

5-11-11 Dianne de Las Casas and Becky Ellis from Bunnell, FL

IRA 2011 was a great conference and I am looking forward to next year’s conference in Chicago!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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The Cajun Cornbread Boy Bulletin Board at Central Park Elementary – May 14, 2011

by dlcasas on May 14, 2011

The Cajun Cornbread Boy Bulletin Board by Nikki Norvell's Class at Central Park Elementary in Bossier City, LA

Friends:

A couple of weeks ago, Central Park Elementary in Bossier City was celebrating children’s literature. They had a bulletin board contest. Ms. Nikki Norvell’s Pre-K class chose my book, The Cajun Cornbread Boy illustrated by Marita Gentry. The students drew Cajun Cornbread Boy artwork and decorated a gorgeous bulletin board. Guess what?! They won first place!! Woo hoo!

Cajun Cornbread Boy Bulletin Board by Nikki Norvell's Pre-K class wins first place

Ms. Norvell and her class will receive a package from me full of Cajun Cornbread Boy goodies just for sending me the pictures and putting forth so much effort!! Ooh yeah, cher!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Book Signing: Barnes & Noble Harvey – Friday, May 6, 2011

by dlcasas on May 7, 2011

5-6-11 Mother's Day performance of Mama's Bayou at Barnes & Noble, Harvey, LA

Friends:

Yesterday, I had a special Mother’s Day Book Event at Barnes & Noble in Harvey, Louisiana featuring my book, Mama’s Bayou, illustrated by Holly Stone-Barker. After I performed the story with the kids, they made stick puppets of the characters from Mama’s Bayou.

5-6-11 Little Alivia makes Mama's Bayou stick puppets

I have the sweetest, most loving fans!

5-6-11 Dianne de Las Casas with sweet petite, Katie

Then it was time to sign books! I had a nice crowd and signed quite a few books. Yay! Thank you to all the wonderful fans who came to Barnes & Noble!

5-6-11 My wonderful little fans!

Happy Mama’s Day from the Bayou! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Author Visit: Berwick Elementary, Berwick, LA – Monday, May 2, 2011

by dlcasas on May 5, 2011

5-2-11 Kids and characters... what fun!

Friends:

This past Monday, I was the guest author at Berwick Elementary for the start of their Louisiana Week Celebration. I saw two groups, K-2 and 3-5. They were so much fun!

5-2-11 The sweet K-2 audience at Berwick Elementary

I told the story of The Cajun Cornbread, The Gigantic Sweet Potato, and Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach.

5-4-11 Gage, a 5th grader full of personality, plays Monsieur Roach, who is afraid of Madame Poulet!

I even told “The Ghost of Jean Lafitte” to the older group. Boy, did we have a blast! Afterwards, they treated me to lunch from Castellano’s, a fabulous family-owned Italian restaurant. Then it was time to sign books! They brought the students in by class…

5-2-11 Students waiting in line to get their books autographed.

The Berwick Elementary students were so well-behaved and polite!! Mr. Russo and Ms. Armato, you have done a fantastic job with these kids!!

5-2-11 Awwww! How sweet and spicy!

One little girl even asked me to autograph her maraca from Cozumel, Mexico (Yes, I have been there!). Thanks, Julie!

5-2-11 Julie asked me to sign her maraca... Ole'!

It was an amazing visit and I really loved the staff and the students of Berwick Elementary. A special thank you to Mr. Russo, Ms. Armato, Micah, Penny, Cathy, Andrea, Kitt, and all the teachers who were sooo sweet! Berwick Elementary rocks!

5-2-11 My gift from Berwick Elementary!

Happy Louisiana Week, Berwick Elementary! Enjoy your festival on Friday!

5-2-11 The awesome Louisiana quilt made by the student of Berwick Elementary

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Book Signing: A Tisket A Tasket – Sunday, May 1, 2011

by dlcasas on May 5, 2011

5-1-11 Dianne de Las Casas and Kid Chef Eliana sign books at A Tisket A Tasket in the French Quarter

Friends:

Kid Chef Eliana and I had a book signing this past weekend at A Tisket A Tasket in the French Quarter during the New Orleans Jazzfest. We had a big, steady crowd the entire time.

5-1-11 A fan takes a picture of Kid Chef Eliana

It was a lot of fun and I saw a lot of people I know in the French Quarter! Here are some cuties that stopped by to buy books! They were the nieces of my friend, Shelly Justice. Hi, Shelly!

5-1-11 The Cajun Cornbread Boy poses with some fans!

Of course, Kid Chef Eliana is always a show stopper. Everyone thinks she is sooo cute. And she is!

5-1-11 Kid Chef Eliana signs books at A Tisket A Tasket

Thank you to Lisa Jones, who is always the gracious hostess. And we miss you so much, Judy Lasko, our favorite A Tisket A Tasket employee, who is now crossed over into the next life. You’ll remain in our hearts always!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Kid Chef Eliana’s Cooking Class at Barnes & Noble – Saturday, April 30, 2011

by dlcasas on May 4, 2011

4-30-11 Kid Chef Eliana gets ready to teaching a Mother's Day Breakfast cooking class at Barnes & Noble in Harvey, LA

Friends:

This past Saturday, Kid Chef Eliana had a big cooking class at Barnes & Noble in Harvey, Louisiana. She taught kids how to make a Mother’s Day Breakfast. She made Cup O’Breakfast and Sparkling Pomegranate Punch from her cookbook, Eliana Cooks! Recipes for Creative Kids.

4-30-11 Kid Chef Eliana sautees her garlic cumin potatoes

I showed the kids how to fold a fancy napkin and how to create a breakfast tray from a pizza pan or a cookie sheet.

4-30-11 After teaching kids how to fold a napkin, the food is presented on a pizza pan turned into a breakfast tray. Gorgeous!!

Her food was sooo tasty and the kids and their moms had the opportunity to make their own.

4-30-11 Moms and their kids make Cup O'Breakfast at the Kid Chef Eliana food station

It was so much fun and Kid Chef Eliana did a phenomenal job!!! What an incredible child! Woo hoo for you, Eliana!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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