2-27-10 Mama's Bayou Frogs Cake

Friends:

My Mama’s Bayou book launch party with Holly Stone-Barker was a smashing success! We had a beautiful cake made to look just like the frogs in our book, Mama’s Bayou. I also set out mini marshmallow frogs for the kids. So cute!

2-27-10 Holly & Dianne in front of the cake table

Judith Lafitte and Tom Lowenberg, owners of Octavia, were wonderful hosts. They rearranged the book store for our party and did a fantastic job! Thank you so much, Judith and Tom!

2-27-10 Dianne is a Judith Lafitte fan! Judith is co-owner of Octavia Books.

Eliana, my 9 year old daughter, dressed up as a gator. I made her cousins outfits with shirts that had the book’s images on them. They were so cute!

2-27-10 Eliana (gator girl on right) with her cousins

Holly set up a large story time magnet board made from one of the pages in our book. It’s so gorgeous!

2-27-10 Mama's Bayou giant story time magnet board

As I sang the story, the children put the animal magnets on their place in the bayou. It worked out so well and the kids loved it!

2-27-10 The children hold their magnets for the story time board

I played the tambourine and sang the story with hand motions. Eliana held the book and turned the pages. Holly managed the children with the placement of their animals on the magnet board. It was fun!

2-27-10 Dianne & Eliana demonstrate the story's motions

Here are the children doing the hand motions for the story.

2-27-10 The children participate in the story

When the story was finished, I sat on the floor with the children to watch Holly as she demonstrated how she creates her cut paper and collage art.

2-27-10 Dianne on the floor with the kids for Holly's demonstration

Holly did a wonderful demonstration and created a dragonfly! The children were fascinated, watching her put together the dragonfly.

2-27-10 Holly Stone-Barker demonstrates her cut paper and collage technique, creating a dragonfly from the book

After Holly’s demonstration, I showed everyone all the activities that were available with our book, all free and downloadable from the web http://www.storyconnection.net/?content=mamasBayou. Then we drew prizes. We gave away a book bag, a cookie sheet magnet board, a mama and baby frog plush set, and a giant stuffed mama and baby frog.

2-27-10 Drawing prizes!

All the children were given a packet of activity sheets and goody bags containing chocolate graham cracker bears, a “Bear Hugs” postcard, bookmark, hopping frog, and party blower. Then we served frogs, poured swamp juice, and signed books.

2-27-10 Holly & Dianne sign books for loyal fans, Jon & Jordyn!

It was a fantabulous day! Thank you to everyone who came to our book launch party. Special thanks to Nina, Katie, and Caitlin of Pelican Publishing for coming! Judith and Tom of Octavia, we couldn’t have done it without you! And of course, thank you to our loyal fans, friends, and family who always stick by us. We’ll stick “bayou” too!

Rock and read on the bayou!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

10-3-09 Dianne de Las Casas, Johanna Chesser & Marita Gentry

Friends:

My book launch party at Octavia Books in New Orleans was a huge success. We had a nice crowd (even though it was LSU game day) with lots of children. All the children were given hats to wear. The girls received roach antennae tiaras while the boys received cone party hats.

10-3-09 Buggy Girls with Roach Antennae Tiaras

I set up a party table with a gorgeous cake, “bug juice,” bookmarks, and a roach party centerpiece.

10-3-09 The Party Table

To celebrate the release of the book, I performed the story while Marita illustrated live. It was a fantastic combination. All the children were given story shakers and everyone danced and sang along.

10-3-09 Marita draws & Dianne tells

We had so much fun. The whole crowd rocked the book store! We have such sweet little fans! Look at this precious little girl, Jordyn!

10-3-09 Little Jordyn

Tom Lowenburg and Judith Lafitte, the book store owners were absolutely fantastic. They were so sweet, moving and shifting things around to accommodate our party. Their staff was awesome too! Thank you all so much for your help in making our book launch party such a smashing success!

10-3-09 Madame Poulet (Tom Lowenburg) Eating Monsieur Roach (Judith Lafitte)

Fans came from miles around, coming from as far as Baton Rouge! We love our friends, family and fans! Thank you so much for supporting us!

10-3-09 Ms. Hannan and Kaci with The Cajun Cornbread Boy and Madame Poulet & Monsieur Roach books

Thank you so much to Holly Stone-Barker and family for coming all the way from Zachary, Louisiana. Holly is the illustrator of my next book, Mama’s Bayou, which will be out in the spring.

Sneak peek of Mama's Bayou (Spring 2010)

I love this picture. Marita Gentry’s mother and grandmother came to the party. Three generations! Beautiful!

10-3-09 (R to L) Marita, her mom & grandmother

Eliana, my 9 year old daughter, had a blast. She and her cousins were also instrumental in helping me set up. Thank you, Eliana and Camrynn for setting up the sound system!

10-3-09 Eliana and her party blower

After the performance, I gave away prizes: a set of creepy crawly cards, my Jump, Jiggle & Jam CD, and a bag of goodies that included my Handmade Tales book. Then it was time for cake and bug juice! The Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach cake was absolutely adorable and delicious! It was almond cake with pineapple filling. Yum!

10-3-09 Madame Poulet & Monsieur Roach cake

Marita and I signed a ton of books and we wore the beautiful, handpainted Madame Poulet hats Marita made. So much fun!

10-3-09 Marita Gentry & Dianne de Las Casas sign books

Even my husband, Antonio, got into the spirit, wearing a Monsieur Roach hat that Marita made.

10-3-09 Antonio as Monsieur Roach

Here is a picture of me with Ellen Miller, a school librarian from Bissonet Plaza Elementary. My first book, Story Fest, is dedicated to Ellen.

10-3-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Ellen Miller

Our book launch party was a huge success. It was tons of fun! If you didn’t make this party – don’t worry! Marita and I have many book signings scheduled. Just check the calendar for a location near you http://www.storyconnection.net/?content=calendar or sign up for BookTour.com.

The hallmark of a successful party? Being party pooped out… LOL

10-3-09 After the party - My nieces, Ashlynn & Camrynn

Marita and I have chosen Octavia Books as our official “book launch” independent bookstore. In New Orleans, my books will be launched at Octavia Books.

10-3-09 Judith Lafitte at the Party Table

Thank you to everyone who came to the Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach book launch party! It was an event to remember!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Marita Gentry Illustrates as Dianne de Las Casas tells The Cajun Cornbread Boy at Octavia Books 2-4-09

Friends:

I had the most amazing book signing experience at Octavia Books in the Garden District in New Orleans. Tom and Judith, the owners, were so wonderful and such gracious hosts.

Marita Gentry, illustrator of The Cajun Cornbread Boy, drew the pictures live as I told the story. I had the crowd laughing, giggling and participating in the story. It was a blast! Afterwards, Marita gave the drawings away to the kids in the crowd. How cool is that?!

Marita Gentry & Dianne de Las Casas pose with fans at Octavia Books 2-4-09

We signed books for about 2 hours. I just love Tom and Judith, who made Marita and I feel so welcome.

Dianne de Las Casas & Marita Gentry sign books at Octavia Books in New Orleans 2-4-09

Eliana, my little 8 year old, fell in love with Pippin, Octavia’s resident dog. Now she wants a puppy! LOL

Eliana falls in love with Pippin, the resident dog of Octavia Books 2-4-09

What a wonderful experience for all of us. Thank you, Octavia Books! We love you!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne