1-7-12 The food table with Mardi Gras Mambo popcorn and a fleur de lis king cake!

Friends:

Last Saturday, Marita Gentry and I had our Dinosaur Mardi Gras book debut party at Octavia Books in New Orleans. It was so much fun! Despite the incredibly huge football weekend it was in New Orleans (Saints playoff game and LSU v. Alabama national championship game), we had a GIGANTOSAURUS turn-out! We had an amazing food table with Mardi Gras Mambo popcorn from Popcorn Bistro and a fleur de lis king cake from Hi-Do Bakery.

1-7-12 The fleur de lis king cake from Hi-Do Bakery. Yum!

The book is inspired by a Dinosaur Mardi Gras float that my nephew made a few years ago. I still have the original float that inspired the book. It is the centerpiece of our food table. It is also a craft that kids can make. You can find it in the back of the book.

1-7-12 Dinosaur Mardi Gras shoebox float, like the craft at the back of the book

I performed the story as my daughter, Eliana, turned the pages of the book. Marita Gentry, the illustrator, drew Dino doubloons using paper plates. She did an amazing job and we gave them to the kids afterwards. All the kids received DINO-MITE prizes too.

1-7-12 The kids pose with Marita Gentry's Dinosaur Doubloons, drawn live during the performance, on paper plates

Marita designed 18 different Dinosaur masks and the kids made them at the party. They came out sooo cute!

1-7-12 Dinosaur Mardi Gras masks that the kids made!

It was a CHOMPING, STOMPING up-ROAR-ious time at Octavia Books! Thank you and hugs to Judith Lafitte and Tom Lowenburg of Octavia books for hosting our CARNIVORE CARNIVAL! ROAR!

Until next time…

Warmly,
Dianne

10-1-11 Dianne de Las Casas, Judith Lafitte of Octavia Books, and Holly Stone-Barker

Friends:

On Saturday, October 1, 2011, Holly Stone-Barker and I had our big book debut party for The House That Witchy Built at Octavia Books in New Orleans, Louisiana. We had a wonderful party table with tasty treats.

10-1-11 The House That Witchy Built Book Debut Party Table at Octavia Books

Check out our table’s centerpiece, which looks like a picture in the book. It was made by the ever-talented Holly.

10-1-11 A close-up of The House That Witchy Built party centerpiece

Holly made cute spider cupcakes while Kid Chef Eliana and I made adorable ghost cupcakes.

10-1-11 Spider cupcakes made by Holly Stone-Barker and ghost cupcakes made by Dianne de Las Casas and Kid Chef Eliana

I told the story of The House That Witchy Built, our new book with Pelican Publishing, and embellished the storytelling with audience participation. The kids wore aprons with the book’s characters on them, lovingly handmade by Holly (isn’t she incredible?!).

10-1-11 Look at all the cute kids wearing those adorable character aprons that Holly made!

All the kids were given witch and wizard hats to wear. They were precious! Some of the kids even came in their own costumes!

10-1-11 Little witches and wizards participate in the storytelling of The House That Witchy Built

Look at this sweet little witch!

10-1-11 Ella Stone-Barker wears her Witchy hat!

We had an amazing crowd (my biggest book launch yet at Octavia) and sign lots of books! Just fabulous! Tom Lowenberg and Judith Lafitte were amazing hosts and I thank them profusely for allowing us to debut our book at Octavia! A very special thank you to all the little fans who came…

10-1-11 Dianne de Las Casas with the most precious pumpkin ever!

Until next time… Boo to You!

Warmly, Dianne

10-2-10 Marita Gentry and Dianne de Las Casas in their cute aprons

Friends:

It has been a busy couple of weeks! This past Saturday was the GIGANTIC book launch of my new book with Marita Gentry, The Gigantic Sweet Potato. We held our big party at our favorite independent bookstore in New Orleans, Octavia Books, owned by Tom Lowenberg and Judith Lafitte. The night before, we were busy baking and baking. Kid Chef Eliana and her friend, Breanne, helped make sweet potato chocolate muffins.

10-2-10 Eliana and Breanne make sweet potato chocolate muffins

Marita and I set a beautiful table full of delicious goodies: sweet potato pies, mini sweet potato pies, sweet potato chocolate muffins, and sweet potato chips.

10-2-10 The Gigantic Sweet Potato goodies table

We had such a wonderful turnout! It was a packed house. I performed the story with the kids from the audience acting out the parts of Pa Farmer, Bessie Cow, Ralphie Dog, Kitty Cat and Lily Mouse while Marita illustrated the story. It was full of fun and tons of comedy!

10-2-10 Kids from the audience help pull on the Gigantic Sweet Potato

When the story was finished, we put all of Marita’s drawings together and they formed a line of Ma Farmer, Pa Farmer and all the animals pulling on The Gigantic Sweet Potato. It was sooo cool! Marita, you ROCK!

10-2-10 When all of Marita's drawings are put together, it looks like Ma Farmer and everyone pulling the Gigantic Sweet Potato!

Afterward, it was time for party food! We served apple cider and milk with the sweet potato pies and muffins. While we were serving food, we had the kids create “Sweet Potato Pals” from our correlating book activities. http://www.storyconnection.net/activities/gsp/GSP-Potato-Pal.pdf The winner was Jon!

10-2-10 Winning Sweet Potato Pal by Jon

Then we gave away tons of prizes: gift baskets, a sweet potato pie, oven mitts, and other goodies. After that, it was time to sign books!

10-2-10 Dianne with #1 fans, Jordyn and Jon

It’s so great that Marita and I have the most wonderful little friends who come out to see us!

10-2-10 A fan hugs Marita oh so tight!

We had GIGANTIC fun at Octavia Books! Thank you to Judith Lafitte and Tom Lowenberg for welcoming us with open arms. And thank you to everyone who came out and supported us!

10-2-10 Cute girls in their Ma Farmer aprons

Reading is a TON of fun! Sweet reads!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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