Jenny Giraffe Discovers the French Quart - Hardcover

by Cecilia Casrill Dartez (Author)

A young giraffe seeks a new life in New Orleans in author Cecilia Dartez and artist Shelby Wilson's picture book Jenny Giraffe Discovers the French Quarter.

"Run, Jenny, quickly! Don't let them take you to the zoo! Find a new home, my dear!" urged Jenny Giraffe's mother after the door to their truck popped open during a minor accident on the streets of the French Quarter in New Orleans. Afraid of life in the zoo, the little giraffe did as her mother said, running down the narrow streets and slipping through an open gate into a beautiful courtyard.

Lonely and scared, Jenny is befriended by Claude and Angelle, a couple of French heritage who agree to help Jenny keep from being discovered and returned to the zoo. They tell Jenny that by mixing in with the unusual street performers and costumed entertainers, Jenny can wander through the busy streets unnoticed, and follow her true calling--painting!

"[Cecilia Dartez] seeks to inspire children not only to read, but also to discover the city where they live." --New Orleans Times-Picayune

Jenny Giraffe
Jenny Giraffe's Mardi Gras Ride
Jenny Giraffe Discovers Papa Noël
Jenny Giraffe Discovers the French Quarter
Jenny Giraffe and the Streetcar Party

Front Jacket

Run, Jenny, quickly! Don't let them take you to the zoo! Find a new home, my dear!

In the chaos following a car accident, little Jenny Giraffe escapes into the streets of the bustling French Quarter of New Orleans. Rushing up one street and down another, she struggles to find a hiding place from the zookeeper.

After finding safety in a quiet courtyard, Jenny meets Claude and Angelle, a pair of artists who agree to help her stay out of the hands of the zookeeper. The couple encourages Jenny to pursue her great passion--painting.

Because of the many street performers in the French Quarter, Jenny roams freely, appearing to be an elaborately costumed entertainer. But how long can a giraffe go without being discovered? Can Jenny remain anonymous as she gains recognition as a talented painter?

A delightful, entertaining adventure through the French Quarter, this book introduces children to the culturally diverse community of New Orleans. Through Jenny's journey as an artist, the story encourages children to pursue their dreams and accept each other's differences. The little giraffe will surely steal the hearts of readers everywhere.

Cecilia Casrill Dartez, a resident of New Orleans, is a former elementary-school teacher and writes for several newsletters and magazines in the area. A popular lecturer and storyteller, she often addresses schools, libraries, and other organizations on Louisiana history, lifestyles, and culture.

Illustrator Shelby Wilson is a native of Natchez, Mississippi. She is a commercial artist residing in New Orleans.

Read more of Jenny Giraffe's adventures and other books by Cecilia Casrill Dartez:

Jenny Giraffe and the Streetcar Party, Jenny Giraffe's Mardi Gras Ride, Jenny Giraffe Discovers Papa Noël, L Is for Louisiana, The Louisiana Plantation Coloring Book, A Marmac Guide to New Orleans: 4th Edition

Author Biography

A former elementary-school teacher, Ms. Dartez is now a talented writer and gifted speaker, often entertaining and educating local schoolchildren with her colorful lectures on the history and culture of Louisiana and the city of New Orleans. She is a popular storyteller for schools, libraries, and other organizations. She is also a guide for children's historical tours with the Hermann-Grima House, an original 1830s house-museum in the French Quarter. Aside from her book-writing, Mrs. Dartez is the author of a children's Louisiana Lore column in the monthly New Orleans and You, Kid magazine, published by the Good Fairies of Hullen Ridge. She also writes a newsletter for the Association for Gifted and Talented Students, and since 1987 she has acted as president of the Gifted and Talented Association of New Orleans, a program for gifted students in the New Orleans area.