6-2-11 Performing my draw and tell tale, The Emperor's Dragon, at the Webster Parish Library in Minden, LA
Friends:
On Thursday, June 2, I was at the Webster Parish Library in Minden and then their Springhill Branch Library. This summer’s reading theme is “One World, Many Stories.” My program is called “Story Safari,” to coincide with the summer theme.
I began my program with my draw and tell story, The Emperor’s Dragon. The kids love seeing lines transformed into a picture! Then I did “Catching a Pest in 7 Steps,” another draw and tell story.
6-2-11 Performing my draw and tell tale, Catching a Pest in 7 Steps, at the Webster Parish Library in Minden, LA
My middle story was “Medio Pollito,” which in Spanish means “Little Half Chick.” It’s the story of how the weather vane came to be. Then it was time for a song: “My Aunt Came Back.”
6-2-11 With helpers from the audience, Dianne performs My Aunt Came Back, a traditional song at the library in Minden
My last story was from my book, There’s a Dragon in the Library. I had helpers from the audience participate in the story. The little boy who played the main character, Max, was hilarious. His name is Kayus. My rapport with the audience was magical and I had such an amazing time with them!
6-2-11 Cute and kooky Kayus plays Max in There's a Dragon in the Library
Kid Chef Eliana closed out the show with a performance of her new song, “Cool Kids Cook!” She is so adorable! Afterward, we sold and signed tons of books, especially Eliana!
6-2-11 Kid Chef Eliana talks about her cookbook, Eliana Cooks! at the library in Minden
At the end of the show, I put on some dance music and some kids from the audience showed everyone their moves. Check out Kayus!! He was the most incredible break dancer!
6-2-11 Kayus does a handstand while is he breakdancing to Dianne's music
After the show, it was time for our annual tradition: lunch at Moody’s Place! Moody’s is this “hole in the wall” restaurant that serves stick-to-your-ribs Southern soul food – fried chicken, fried pork chops, country fried steak, turnip greens, purple hull peas (black eyed peas), yams, and pies that will make you dream about them for days!!
6-2-11 Oh me, oh my! Look at those pies!
This is the restaurant that introduced me to “hot water cornbread.” Cornbread that is baked and then fried! But it sure tastes good!
6-2-11 Hot water cornbread at Moody's Place in Minden, LA
Jennifer Heard is the children’s librarian who introduced us to Moody’s. Now we have to eat there every time we go to Minden! Look at the two Jennifers! (Jennifer Heard is on the left.)
6-2-11 Jennifer X 2 from the Webster Parish Library in Minden!
Eliana even got to talk to Ms. Moody for a little bit. Yes, Moody’s Place is one of our favorite Southern cooking restaurants in Louisiana!
6-2-11 Kid Chef Eliana in front of Moody's Place in Minden, LA
After lunch, it was time to head to Springhill, Louisiana for our second show. Springhill is on the Arkansas border. It’s waay north! Again, I told my draw and tell stories. When I did “My Aunt Came Back,” the audience had a great time getting silly!
6-2-11 The audience at the Springhill Branch Library does My Aunt Came Back
“Medio Pollito” was a hit with the Springhill Crowd. They even learned a little Spanish!
6-2-11 Showing kids a weather vane from the story, Medio Pollito
When I performed There’s a Dragon in the Library, Zach was my little helper that played “Max” in the story. We had a good time!
6-2-11 Performing There's a Dragon in the Library at the Springhill Branch Library
Kid Chef Eliana performed her song, “Cool Kids Cook!” At this show, we sold out of books – both of us!
6-2-11 Kid Chef Eliana performs her song, Cool Kids Cook!
Kid Chef Eliana was a big hit and her little fans wanted pictures with her!
6-2-11 Kid Chef Eliana takes a picture with sweet fans!
Following our show, we headed across the street to AmJenn’s Soups and Scoops restaurant. We both enjoyed cold Coke floats. We even got to sign dollar bills that were placed on the ceiling! Cool!
6-2-11 Kid Chef Eliana and Dianne de Las Casas sign dollar bills for the ceiling at AmJenn's Soups & Scoops restaurant on Main Street in Springhill, LA
Eliana and I had a MARVELOUS time in Webster Parish. Webster Parish is just full of good people – we had such wonderful audiences and the library staff is just out of this world!!! So a world of thanks to our friends in Minden and Springhill! See you down the road…
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
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