The Cajun Cornbread Boy

Book Signings: Pitot House Museum and Barnes & Noble Bluebonnet in Baton Rouge – Saturday, December 4, 2010

by Dianne on December 5, 2010

12-4-10 Dianne de Las Casas with Papa Noel at the Pitot House Museum holiday book signing

Friends:

Saturday was such a busy day! I had a book signing in the morning at 9am at the Pitot House Museum Holiday event in New Orleans. I even got to take pictures with Papa Noel! My friend, Denise McConduit, the children’s book author of the DJ series of books (DJ and the Zulu Parade, DJ and the Debutante Ball, DJ and the Jazz Fest) was also there. We couldn’t resist taking a picture together!

12-4-10 Pelican Authors Denise McConduit and Dianne de Las Casas at the Pitot House Museum holiday event

After two hours of busy and constant book signing, I had to go to Baton Rouge to perform The Gigantic Sweet Potato with illustrator Marita Gentry and to sign books at the Barnes & Noble on Bluebonnet in Perkins Rowe. Carron Fillingim, the CRM, was there to greet me. Kid Chef Eliana also had a signing!

12-4-10 Marita Gentry and Dianne de Las Casas present The Gigantic Sweet Potato at Barnes & Noble Baton Rouge in Perkins Rowe

We had a lot of fun! I performed the story with the help of the kids in the audience as Marita illustrated live. She is so amazing!

12-4-10 The kids line up with Marita's awesome drawings to create a scene in The Gigantic Sweet Potato

We signed a TON of books and sold out of every title except The Gigantic Sweet Potato. Woo hoo!

12-4-10 Dianne de Las Casas and Marita Gentry with Destiny, our pretty fan with flaxen, gold-spun hair! Just gorgeous!

Kid Chef Eliana also signed books and sold quite a few copies.

12-4-10 Kid Chef Eliana's Cookbooks are displayed and she's signing books too!

It was a full but fun day and we ended the night by going to the Cinemark Theater to see Tangled. What a great movie! It was a great twist on the traditional Rapunzel. Loved it!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Gigantic Sweet Potato Book Event at Barnes & Noble Mandeville, LA – Tuesday, November 16, 2010

by Dianne on November 17, 2010

11-16-10 Dianne enlists the help of the audience to pull The Gigantic Sweet Potato

Friends:

Marita and I did a special presentation of The Gigantic Sweet Potato, our new Fall 2010 book, at the Barnes & Noble store in Mandeville, Louisiana. The story time area was packed with little fans, both old and new!

11-16-10 Wonderful audience at Barnes & Noble Mandeville, Louisiana

Marita worked her illustration magic on her sketch pad while I busied children from the audience with fun participation.

11-16-10 Marita Gentry illustrates Kitty Cat in The Gigantic Sweet Potato

They were so little and so cute! Here they are holding up all the illustrations, to create a scene from the book of everyone pulling the gigantic sweet potato.

11-16-10 The illustrations create a scene in the book!

It was a a lot of fun and I enjoyed seeing all my little friends again!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Book Signing at A Tisket A Tasket with Kid Chef Eliana – Saturday, November 13, 2010

by Dianne on November 17, 2010

11-13-10 Dianne de Las Casas and Kid Chef Eliana signing books at A Tisket A Tasket in the French Quarter

Friends:

Kid Chef Eliana and I had a joint book signing this past weekend at A Tisket A Tasket gift shop in the French Quarter. Eliana signed her new cookbook, Eliana Cooks! and I signed my children’s books, The Gigantic Sweet Potato, Mama’s Bayou, Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach, and The Cajun Cornbread Boy.

11-13-10 Dianne de Las Casas and Kid Chef Eliana signing books

From the moment we arrived, Eliana attracted attention! We were constantly busy, passing out samples of her Devil’s Food Monster Muffins and signing books.

11-13-10 There is a big crowd for Kid Chef Eliana!

I was so impressed by the way Eliana handled herself and spoke to people about her book. She sold 30 books in two hours! She’s such a pro! :)

11-13-10 Kid Chef Eliana poses with her sign at A Tisket A Tasket

I look forward to my next book signing with the coolest kid chef around!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Dianne de Las Casas visits Eastside Elementary in Lancaster, California – Tuesday, October 12, 2010

by Dianne on October 25, 2010

10-12-10 Eastside Elementary in Lancaster, CA welcomes me!

Friends:

I recently returned from a whirlwind trip to California. I had the privilege of visiting Eastside Elementary in Lancaster, California. It was my third visit to Eastside. I am so glad that they keep inviting me back! Cajun Cornbread Boy stopped in Lancaster on his national tour and he was there to greet me! How cool is that?!

10-12-10 Cajun Cornbread Boy is there to greet me! Woo hoo!

I performed “Handmade Tales” for all the grades and it was so much fun. I did some draw and tell tales including “The Emperor’s Dragon” and taught them how to make a six page book out of a single sheet of paper. The students loved it.

10-12-10 A 5th grade student draws The Emperor's Dragon during my presentation

I got to see all the grades from kindergarten to 6th grade. About 700 students in all…

10-12-10 Lots of students participate in Handmade Tales

That evening, I spoke to the students and their parents for literacy night.

10-12-10 Me, Kara and her mom, Valerie Humphrey, a fourth grade teacher

I performed a couple of stories and ended with my rousing telling of “Rockin’ Three Billy Goats.”

10-12-10 Playing the part of the troll during Eastside Elementary Literacy Night

What a great school! I can’t wait to return next year! They’ve already invited me back! :) Thank you Margo Deal, Santos DeCasas, Nilafe DelRosario, Jimmy Mora, Valerie Humphrey, and Eastside PTA for making my visit so special!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Cajun Cornbread Boy Leaves on Journey Across North America – Wednesday, September 8, 2010

by Dianne on September 9, 2010

9-8-10 Cajun Cornbread Boy gets ready to leave

Friends,

It was a busy day getting Cajun Cornbread Boy ready for his journey. I packed his suitcase with Louisiana brochures, Mardi Gras beads, and Cajun and Zydeco music. In his box is a large U.S. map, The Cajun Cornbread Boy book, and a big red book filled with a guide and activity sheets. Cajun Cornbread Boy is the character from my book The Cajun Cornbread Boy, illustrated by Marita Gentry and published by Pelican Publishing Company.

His first host is Ally Hoadley’s kindergarten class at Phoebe Hearst Elementary School in Metairie, Louisiana. Ms. Hoadley came by to pick up Cajun Cornbread Boy after her school’s open house. Well, you can’t stop by my house and not eat! I had a big roast beef and potatoes dinner waiting for her on the table. We finished with 5-4-3-2-1 No Bake Chocolate Cake. Yum!

9-8-10 Ally Hoadley, Kindergarten Teacher at Phoebe Hearst Elem in Metairie, Louisiana, is Cajun Cornbread Boy's first host.

We brought Cajun Cornbread Boy to Ms. Hoadley’s brand new Honda CRV. Yes, he was riding in style! After buckling him in, I waved an emotional goodbye, and bid him a safe journey. I know he is going to have a blast on his jet-setting trip around North America this year!

9-8-10 Cajun Cornbread Boy is buckled in and ready to go. Safe Journeys!

Watch this blog as his various hosts will be updating it on a regular basis. See what Cajun Cornbread Boy thinks about his journey by following him on Twitter @cajuncornbrdboy. Check out his blog at http://www.cajuncornbreadboy.com!

Laissez les bon temps rouler, Cajun Cornbread Boy! Let the good times roll!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Free Webinar: From Imagination to Publication w Dianne de Las Casas & Raising CEO Kids

by Dianne on September 6, 2010

Book Signing at Barnes & Noble

Friends:

I am conducting a free webinar on the children’s book publishing business on Wednesday, September 15, 2010. It’s called “From Imagination to Publication: The Journey of a Children’s Book Author.” It’s sponsored by Sarah Cook of Raising CEO Kids. You can register for the webinar here: http://www.raisingceokids.com.

What can you expect in this 1 hour free webinar? Complete with a slide show and resource links, I will talk about how children’s book publishing works, from the time you hatch an idea to submitting a manuscript to receiving a contract and finally, to marketing the published book. It’s a process and one that many people ask me about time and time again. Be prepared to take a lot of notes and ask questions!

I will say this: Writing for children is a sacred craft. Once your work is out there, it is out there forever so you want to be sure that you are giving them timeless material. Give them your very best. Write books that will make them think, laugh and learn (internally and externally). Please note that this webinar is not about HOW to write a children’s book. This webinar assumes that you have publication-ready material and that you are ready to find a publisher. A quick Google search will yield tremendous results on HOW to write a children’s book (that’s a whole ‘nother webinar!).

Book Signing at Sam's Club

So what makes me the “expert?” Well, you can read all about me on my website at http://www.storyconnection.net. Suffice to say, I spent many years learning HOW TO before I actually became a published author. My first book came out in 2005 and here in 2010, I have 12 books (a combination of both children’s and educational books). I conduct seminars around the world, attend major education and library conferences,and do tons of author school visits. And… THIS is my full time job!

I hope you’ll join me and Sarah on this free webinar. It’s time for YOU to start living YOUR dreams! And I leave you with my life’s mantra:

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams… Live the life you have imagined.” – Henry David Thoreau

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Scholastic Book Fair Seminars, Philippines – May 5-8, 2010

by Dianne on May 9, 2010

5-5-10 Welcome sign at St. Paul College in Bulacan, Philippines

Friends:

I am touring in the Philippines right now. I just finished a series of workshops for Scholastic Book Fairs Philippines. I did five workshops in the past four days. What a hectic schedule!

My first workshop on May 5 was in Bulacan, Philippines at St. Paul Collage, about an hour north of Manila. My workshop was a combination of Handmade Tales, demonstrations of my children’s book activities, storytelling, story theater, and Scholastic Book talks.

5-5-10 Taking pictures with fans from Bulacan, Philippines

On Thursday, May 6, 2010, I performed at workshop in Batangas, Philippines, about 1.5 hours south of Manila. The teachers loved the workshop and were such receptive participants!

5-5-10 Workshop participants in Batangas, Philippines portray a school bus full of bad kids

They were a fun group and I enjoyed working with them. What an energetic group of teachers!

5-6-10 Workshop participants in Batangas, Philippines sing and dance the chorus in the story theater re-enactment of The Cajun Cornbread Boy

On Friday, May 7, 2010, I had a seminar at the Development Academy of the Philippines in Manila. The room was over-full, with a record number! Over 160 workshop participants!

5-7-10 Development Academy of the Philippines workshop participants depicting a ballerina during a story theater exercise

The crowd was enthusiastic, with many of the teachers having attended my previous sessions. I had a blast with this crowd. Galing!

5-7-10 Dancing with roaches in Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach at a workshop at the Development Academy of the Philippines in Manila

I loved what they did with their Madame Poulet & Monsieur Roach story shakers!

5-7-10 Development Academy of the Philippines Workshop participants create Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach story shakers

I had a contest and narrowed it down to three finalists. They all won a prize but the gentleman in the middle, Argel, won the grand prize. He made a story shaker with a 3-D chicken and roaches on each side of the shaker!

5-7-10 The Madame Poulet & Monsieur Roach story shaker finalists

Let me tell you, I had a room full of stars!! :)

5-7-10 The teaching stars of Manila, Philippines!

Later that afternoon, I had a workshop at the Scholastic headquarters for the Preschool Literacy Program. It was so much fun working with the preschool teachers, especially when we had a snowball fight in the room!! We also created a snow blizzard.

5-7-10 Preschool Literacy Program workshop participants create snow blizzard, Scholastic Headquarters, Manila, Philippines

The teachers were very receptive to new ideas for their preschool classroom and many of them were already fans, having purchased my storytelling CDs. :)

5-7-10 The preschool teaching stars of Manila, Philippines

My final workshop was on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at the Scholastic Grolier store in Mall of Asia.

5-8-10 Sign for Workshop at the Grolier Store at the Mall of Asia

It was for teachers and mothers to learn interactive storytelling and book activities.

5-8-10 Dancing with roaches in Madame Poulet & Monsieur Roach at Mall of Asia event

I had a ton of fun working with teachers from all over the Philippines. In my eyes, they are the true stars!!

5-8-10 Workshop participants at the Mall of Asia Grolier event

After my workshop at Mall of Asia, I hung out with Zarah Gagatiga, my friend and co-author for Tales from the 7,000 Isles, her daughter, Zoe, my cousins, Joann and Katrin. Then my family (my aunts and cousins) all met me for Pizza at Yellow Cab. There were 32 of us!!! Wow!

5-8-10 Lunch with my family at Yellow Cab Pizza, Mall of Asia, Manila, Philippines

The rest of my visit in Asia consists of trips to Sagada in North Philippines, Bohol in Visayas, Philippines, and Thailand. I am excited about my upcoming trips! I will try to blog and update my Facebook but it depends on my Internet access.

A special thank you to Meinard Cruz of Scholastic Books for hosting me once again! Thank you so my special friends, Zarah Gagatiga and Jay Menes, for their friendship and support! To my family… Mahal kita!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Athens Tennessee School Visits – April 29-May 1, 2010

by Dianne on May 9, 2010

4-30-10 Ingleside Elementary in Athens, TN welcomes me!

Friends:

From April 28-May 1, I was in Athens, Tennessee for school visits and the Etowah Young Authors Conference. I stayed at the incredible Majestic Mansion Bed & Breakfast owned and operated by Elaine and Richard Newman. What a marvelous place. I was treated like a queen and had a delicious gourmet breakfast every morning!

4-28-10 The Majestic Mansion Bed & Breakfast in Athens, TN

Upon entering my room, I was greeted with a nice surprise. The Athens City School Librarians left me a box of goodies!

4-28-10 Gifts from Athens City TN Librarians left in my room

I visited four schools, two each day and had lunch with students each day.

4-30-10 Performing at Ingleside Elementary in Athens, TN

4-30-10 Performing at Ingleside Elementary in Athens, TN

I signed books for students and teachers at all the schools.

4-29-10 Signing books at a school in Athens, Tennessee

Lunch with the students was so much fun. At Westside, they had the table decorated with a chicken and giant roaches all over the table!

4-30-10 Lunch with select students at Westside Elementary in Athens, TN

Beth Jackson, the Westside School Librarian, made an incredible replica of The Cajun Cornbread Boy. He was awesome, made of real cornbread in a heavy iron skillet, with chilies for eyes, peppercorn for the nose, and sausage for the nose. So awesome!!

4-29-10 Beth Jackson, Westside School Librarian, made a real Cajun Cornbread Boy!

Beth also had a Madame Poulet Cake made too! Just WOW!

4-29-10 Beth Jackson, School Librarian, had a Madame Poulet cake made in my honor! Too cool!

On Saturday, May 1, 2010, I was part of the Etowah Young Authors Conference. It was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed myself in Athens, Tennessee. The people are so warm and friendly! Thank you to Carolyn Grimmett, the school librarian at Ingleside Elementary, for arranging my entire visit. Carolyn made the most incredible bulletin boards of my books but I forgot to take pictures with my camera. I did post pictures from my iPhone to my Facebook. Thank you also to Renee Nicolo of the Etowah Young Authors Conference! You all made my visit to Tennessee so special!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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International Reading Association Conference, Chicago, Illinois – April 26-27, 2010

by Dianne on May 9, 2010

4-28-10 Dianne de Las Casas signing books at Pelican Publishing

Friends:

Towards the end of April, I was at the International Reading Association Conference in Chicago, Illinois signing my books, The Cajun Cornbread Boy, Madame Poulet & Monsieur Roach and Mama’s Bayou at the Pelican Publishing Booth.

When I arrived on Sunday, April 25, 2010, it was storming. But the next day, the weather cleared and it was gorgeous. Look at the beautiful tulips blossoming in downtown Chicago!

4-26-10 Tulips bloom in Chi Town

I was fortunate that many of my children’s author friends were also signing. I tried to see as many of them as possible. One of my favorite authors is Jane Yolen. Jane lost 40 pounds and looks like a million dollars! Way to go, Jane!

4-26-10 Author Jane Yolen & Dianne de Las Casas

It was great to see all my friends because I also stocked up on books and knocked off a lot of Christmas shopping! Who wouldn’t want to receive a signed book as a gift?! On Monday night, I attended the Highlights Foundation dinner and saw more close friends like Juliet Bond and MJ Diem.

4-26-10 Dianne de Las Casas, Illustrator Eric Rohmer and Author Candace Fleming

On Tuesday, April 27, 2010 I ran around trying to see as many of my author friends who were also signing. I was able to visit with my dear friend, Mary Jo Huff (but we forgot to take a picture together!!). I also neglected to take pictures with my buddy, Illustrator Rick Anderson and author Michael Shoulders. It was great meeting Eric Ode for the first time. We’d been corresponding for years by email and Facebook. I saw many fans from Louisiana, Guam, and other states and countries around the world!! It was a great conference.

4-27-10 Author Anastasia Suen and Dianne de Las Casas

I saw Lisa Yee and had the privilege of taking a picture with her and Peepy! :)

4-27-10 Author Lisa Yee, Peepy & Dianne de Las Casas

I had been corresponding with Author Nancy Krulik on Facebook. I finally got to meet her in person too. Yay!

4-27-10 Author Nancy Krulik and Dianne de Las Casas

Another highlight was getting to see my buddy, Eric Kimmel. I adore his books and love him as a person. He’s such a great guy, gracious and giving…

4-28-10 Author Eric Kimmel and Dianne de Las Casas

One of my storytelling heroes has always been Margaret Read MacDonald. I love her work and what she has contributed to children’s literature through her folktale collections and children’s books. I am happy to say we are now friends. Margie, you rock!

4-27-10 Dianne de Las Casas and Author Margaret Read MacDonald

IRA was an awesome conference and I loved every minute of it. I made new friends (Hi Vanessa and Deborah from Nashville, Tennessee!). A special thank you to Caitlin Smith, the school sales manager for Pelican Publishing for everything you did to make my visit to Chicago a success!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Zachary Area Reading Council Conference – Saturday, April 17, 2010

by Dianne on April 18, 2010

4-17-10 Performing How Funky Is Your Chicken at the Zachary Area Reading Council Conference

4-17-10 Performing How Funky Is Your Chicken at the Zachary Area Reading Council Conference

Friends:

On Saturday, I was the keynote speaker for the Zachary Area Reading Council (ZARC) in Zachary, Louisiana. They are a chapter of the International Reading Association. I spoke and gave two break-out sessions, “Handmade Tales,” and “Story Fest.”

In my “Handmade Tales” workshop, I taught the teachers several make and take tales that they could integrate into their lesson plans and teach the students. They did cut and tell tales, draw and tell tales, fold and tell tales, and I even showed them a little bit of Tangram Tales.

4-17-10 ZARC Handmade Tales workshop participants create a snow blizzard with coffee filter snowflakes

4-17-10 ZARC Handmade Tales workshop participants create a snow blizzard with coffee filter snowflakes

They loved making Bandana Man and I surprised them by giving them the bandanas to keep. :)

4-17-10 ZARC Handmade Tales workshop participants make Bandana Man

4-17-10 ZARC Handmade Tales workshop participants make Bandana Man

My second session was “Story Fest: Reading Comprehension through Story Theater.” They did individual, partner and group role playing warm-up exercises. Boy, did they stretch their imaginations and have fun!

4-17-10 ZARC Story Fest workshop participants portray a woman walking her dog in central park

4-17-10 ZARC Story Fest workshop participants portray a woman walking her dog in central park

It was fun seeing them move through the task progression into group work.

4-17-10 ZARC Teachers in Story Fest workshop portray a football player kicking a ball through the field goal posts

4-17-10 ZARC Teachers in Story Fest workshop portray a football player kicking a ball through the field goal posts

The culminating activity of the workshop was the creation and performance of a group story theater: “The Turtle Who Would Not Stop Talking.”

4-17-10 ZARC Story Fest workshop participants createa collective story theater with the tale, "The Turtle Who Could Not Stop Talking"

It was a great day and I enjoyed working with all those wonderful teachers. Thank you Michelle Cardonella for driving all the way from the North Shore to see me! Thank you to Heather Stone for coordinating the event and my schedule. And a special thank you to Holly Stone-Barker for housing me and arranging a book signing at Jack and Jill that afternoon in Zachary, Louisiana.

Up next: an author visit to Zachary Elementary on Monday, April 19, 2010.

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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