7-9-11 Kid Chef Eliana performs her song, Cool Kids Cook

Friends:

Yesterday, my daughter, 11 year old Kid Chef Eliana, had a cooking demonstration and book signing at Cherry Books in Thibodaux, Louisiana. She made her delicious “Fresh from the Garden Salsa” from her cookbook, Eliana Cooks! Recipes for Creative Kids.

7-9-11 Kid Chef Eliana makes her Fresh from the Garden Salsa at Cherry Books in Thibodaux, LA

It was a great crowd – the bookstore was packed! Everyone LOVED Kid Chef Eliana’s salsa and ate both batches of her tasty sauce. Afterward, she signed books. There were lots of kids and we had tons of fun at Cherry Books.

7-9-11 Kid Chef Eliana signs autographs at Cherry Books in Thibodaux, LA

Thank you to all our friends and fans who came!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

2-19-11 There's a Dragon in the Library fans at Cherry Books

Friends:

This past Saturday, Marita and I launched our new book, There’s a Dragon in the Library, at Cherry Books in Thibodaux, Louisiana. We had a big bayou bash!

2-19-11 Telling the story of There's a Dragon in the Library at Cherry Books, Thibodaux, LA

The story was fun and interactive. Marita drew the dragon as I had all the kids act out the parts with puppets.

2-19-11 The whole cast of There's a Dragon in the Library at Cherry Books, Thibodaux, LA

As usual, Marita’s drawing was AMAZING!! She is such a talented illustrator. I am so lucky to work with her!

2-19-11 Marita Gentry with her Dewey the Dragon drawing from There's a Dragon in the Library at Cherry Books, Thibodaux, LA

Afterward, the kids made mini accordion dragon puppets. They came out sooo cool!

2-19-11 Avid fan, Jaden B., proudly displays his accordion dragon puppet. Too cool!

We even had a fan come who matched the cover of our book! Precious!

2-19-11 A fan at Cherry Books matches the book!

Thank you to everyone who came to help us celebrate our new book. A special thanks to the Breaux family, who came from St. Mary Parish! You all rock! Thank you also to Cherry Books for your support!!

Books are for reading, not for eating! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

10-23-10 Marita draws Ma Farmer in The Gigantic Sweet Potato

Friends:

We launched The Gigantic Sweet Potato on the bayou in Thibodaux, Louisiana at Cherry Books. We had such an awesome crowd! Marita illustrated the story live as I performed it with interactive participation from the kids in the audience. Boy, did we have fun pullling that gigantic sweet potato!

10-23-10 Everyone helps pulling up The Gigantic Sweet Potato

Not only was every kid a character in the story, every kid was a character!! I love how interactive this story is both with dramatic role playing and the rhythmic refrain that repeats throughout the story. Marita’s illustrations amaze me every time. She keeps in time with the story, drawing her little heart out… FAST!

10-22-10 Marita draw Lily Mouse in The Gigantic Sweet Potato

Sometimes, I wish I could sit down and just watch her draw! What a talent!

10-23-10 Marita draws Lily Mouse with a gigantic piece of sweet potato pie

When the story was finished, there was a surprise for the audience… All the pictures lined up to create a scene in the book of everyone helping pull up the gigantic sweet potato. Then the kids holding the pictures got to keep the illustrations! How cool is that?!

10-23-10 All Marita's illustrations lined up to show a picture of everyone pulling up The Gigantic Sweet Potato. WOW!

The kids created Sweet Potato Pals and lined up to have their books, drawings and posters signed.

10-23-10 A sweetie pie shows her Sweet Potato Pal

It was great to see old friends and new faces too! We had a great crowd at Cherry Books, our biggest yet!

10-23-10 Dianne and Marita pose with the coolest fans!

Of course, we can’t forget that we wrote other books too. Cajun Cornbread Boy had to get his 5 minutes!!

10-23-10 Sweet Petite holds Cajun Cornbread Boy. Awwww!

Everyone showed such enthusiasm and creativity!!

10-23-10 Yes, Nerds are Sweet Potato Pals too...

A special thank you to Eliana, my little farm girl, who was such a GIGANTIC help the past couple of days with my book launches! Eliana, you are a cutie patootie pie!

10-23-10 Farmer Eliana

Another gracious thank you to Cherry Books. Marita and I appreciate your welcoming us to your store with every new book! Merci beaucoup!!

Sweet reads! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

3-20-10 Dianne dances with roaches in Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach

Friends:

On Saturday, Marita Gentry and I had a performance and book signing event at Cherry Books in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Before our show, we were interviewed by Woody Falgoust, owner of Cherry Books and TV Host of the show, Books on the Bayou. Woody was so warm and welcoming. He was a great host and made both Marita and I feel at ease, talking to us about our children’s book collaborations. When the TV segment is ready, we’ll let you know!

3-20-10 Marita illustrates Monsieur Roach pretending to be sick

Marita and I performed Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach, a New Orleans folktale about why chickens and roaches are no longer friends. Marita illustrated while I told the story with tons of audience participation. We had a great crowd and I pulled several children from the audience to be “roaches” in the story.

3-20-10 Dianne and Marita perform together

Marita is so good drawing live and her illustrations are so cute. It’s a great example of how a story comes to life through pictures. She is at ease at the easel, drawing wicked fast to the amazement of the audience!

Afterward, we gave away Marita’s drawings to all the children in the audience. We also gave out posters, bookmarks, and postcards.

3-20-10 Dianne gives away Marita's drawings

Of course, we signed books too and took pictures with our little fans and friends. I love the people in Thibodaux. They are so sweet!

3-20-10 Dianne and Marita with fans at Cherry Books in Thibodaux

We had a great time at Cherry Books. Thank you to Woody and Susie Falgoust for being such big fans of our work! And thank you to Phyllis, their hardworking manager. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

11-14-09 Dianne & Marita with fans at Cherry Books

Friends:

Today I was at Cherry Books in Thibodaux, Louisiana with my illustrator, Marita Gentry promoting our new book, Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach. Cherry Books is a beautiful little independent book store in Thibodaux on Canal Boulevard. The inside is so cute and they change the decor of children’s section to reflect the seasons. Look at this fantastic holiday Nutcracker!

11-14-09 The giant holiday nutcracker at Cherry Books

Marita illustrated live while I told the story of Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach. The girls were given roach antennae tiaras while the boys were given party hats. They played story shakers and danced with me. It was so much fun!

11-14-09 Marita draws while Dianne and the roaches dance

Here is a close-up of Marita’s live illustration.

11-14-09 Close-up of Marita drawing

Afterwards, we passed out the illustrations to the audience and then signed books and the illustrations.

11-14-09 Dianne & Marita sign books and illustrations

We had “old” fans (from The Cajun Cornbread Boy) and new fans! This little boy, Samuel, said that when he grows up, he wants to become our assistant! Too cute!

11-14-09 Dianne & Marita with Samuel

Marita and I had so much fun at Cherry Books. The book store said that we are welcome to Cherry Books any time! I look forward to returning in the spring with my new book, Mama’s Bayou.

11-14-09 Madame Poulet and her twin?!!

Eliana, my 9 year old daughter, is a great little photographer. Check out this self-portrait!

11-14-09 Eliana wears Monsieur Roach on her head

After the book signing, Antonio, Eliana and I went to Thibodauxville, a big festival that takes place in downtown Thibodaux. My friend, Debbie Ruester and her daughter, Rebecca, were there and we visited with them for a while. The weather was perfect, the food was delicious and we ate a hearty lunch of Louisiana festival food: brisket sandwich, meat pies, Cajun sausage sandwich, bread pudding, and peanut butter fudge. YUM!

11-14-09 A mansion for auction in downtown Thibodaux

Thibodaux is a really cute town nestled next to the bayou. It is the home of Nicholls State University which now boasts the John Folse Culinary Institute. I love this picture of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral.

11-14-09 St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux

It was a wonderful day to be in Thibodaux. A special thank you to Marita Gentry, my talented illustrator, Pelican Publishing for publishing our books, and the staff of Cherry Books for always supporting us! And of course, thank you and a big hugs to all of our little (and big) fans in the bayou region.

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne