The Cajun Cornbread Boy - Hardcover

by Dianne de Las Casas (Author)

The classic children's folktale of the Gingerbread Boy gets a spicy Cajun twist--and comes with a delicious recipe for cornbread.

Down on the bayou in the heart of Cajun country lives a little old woman who is very lonely. One day, she decides to make a cornbread boy. Taking down her grandmère's magical black iron skillet, she adds all the right ingredients, careful not to forget a big dash of cayenne pepper.

When the cornbread boy pops out of the oven, he blinks his chili-pepper eyes, sprouts arms and legs, and sprints out the door before the old woman can catch him. Through the swamp and past the creatures curiously sniffing after him, the cornbread boy runs until he meets an artful alligator who is in for one spicy surprise.

In this flavorful retelling of the classic Gingerbread Boy tale, international storyteller extraordinaire Dianne de Las Casas presents a delightful romp through Cajun country that will have readers of all ages hungry for more.

Praise for The Cajun Cornbread Boy

"An old tale sprouts legs and takes off, enlivened by a dash of Cajun flavor. Catch it if you can!" --Aaron Sheard, The Author of Lightning Larry

"Dianne de Las Casas mixes humor, high spirits, lively narration and a colorful setting to bring alive the timeless tale of the Gingerbread Boy." --Robert D. San Souci, author of The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South and Little Pierre: A Cajun Story from Louisiana

Front Jacket

"An old tale sprouts legs and takes off, enlivened by a dash of Cajun flavor. Catch it if you can!"
--Aaron Shepard, author of The Legend of Lightning Larry

"An appealing Cajun version of the traditional story of the Gingerbread Boy."
--Gale K. Criswell, retired Children's Services Consultant of the State Library of Louisiana

Down on the bayou in the heart of Cajun country lives a little old woman who is very lonely. One day, she decides to make a cornbread boy. Taking down her grand-mï¿1/2re's magical black iron skillet, she adds all the right ingredients, careful not to forget a big dash of cayenne pepper.

When the cornbread boy pops out of the oven, he blinks his chili-pepper eyes, sprouts arms and legs, and sprints out the door before the old woman can catch him. Through the swamp and past the creatures curiously sniffing after him, the cornbread boy runs until he meets an artful alligator who is in for one spicy surprise.

In this flavorful retelling of the classic Gingerbread Boy tale, international storyteller extraordinaire Dianne de Las Casas presents a delightful romp through Cajun country that will have readers of all ages hungry for more.

Author Biography

Dianne de Las Casas is an author, recording artist, and professional storyteller. Her CDs Jump, Jiggle & Jam and World Fiesta were named the School Library Journal's Audio of the Week and received rave reviews in Publishers Weekly. She performs arts-in-education programs and residencies at schools, libraries, festivals, museums, and special events. She is a frequent presenter at the International Reading Association, American Library Association, and other literary and education conferences. She co-authored both Cool Kids Cook: Louisiana and Cool Kids Cook: Fresh and Fit with her youngest daughter, Kid Chef Eliana. Having written several instructional books on the art of theater and storytelling, de Las Casas participates directly in creating artistic tools for children. She is the founder of Story Connection Express, an educational e-zine for parents and teachers, and the Picture Book Month initiative, which was featured in Life Lift: The Oprah Blog, among other media. She was named the International Reading Association LEADER's 2014 poet laureate and received the 2014 Ann Martin Book Mark Award from the Bishop Byrne Chapter of the Catholic Library Association. De Las Casas attended the University of New Orleans and Delgado Community College. She enjoys reading and going to the movies with her family and lives in Harvey, Louisiana.

Marita Gentry is a professional artist with her own painting and teaching studio, Studio Marita. Gentry has served as artist-in-residence for several schools, and her illustrations are a delight to young and old alike. Her vivid illustrations have earned her numerous awards and commissions. This is her first children's book.