End the month with poetry!

Sign on the street in Oxford, Mississippi.

Unless you don't read Facebook posts, signs on bookstore windows or watch C-Span Book TV — or even this blog —you probably missed that April is National Poetry Month. It began in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets to celebrate "poetry's vital place in our culture," according to the website. In honor of National Poetry Month, we offer a look at two children's books to encourage the poet of the next generation and to inspire others to read.

The former national poet laureate Maya Angelou published "Life Doesn't Frighten Me," a collection of modern poetry and art, in 1993 to introduce young readers to both inspiring art forms. Illustrated with paintings by Jean-Michel Basquiat, who died too young at the age of 27 and whose artwork is exhibited around the world, the book is "a powerful exploration of emotion and its expression through the careful blend of words and arts," according to School Library Journal.

The book has been re-released by Abrams as a 25th-anniversary celebratory book. And if the talents of these two don't sway you enough, the fearless message might.

"I go boo

Make them shoo

I make fun

Way they run

I won't cry

So they fly

I just smile

They go wild

Life doesn't frighten me at all."

Award-winning author and poet Lee Bennett Hopkins edits a collection of poetry accented by artwork in a gorgeous board book titled "World Make Way: New Poems Inspired by Art from the Metropolitan Museum of Art." There's "Cat Watching a Spider" by Julie Fogliano next to Oide Toko's painting of the same name, "Early Evening" by Charles Ghigna accented by Winslow Homer's "Boys in a Dory" and "Studio" by Marilyn Nelson with Kerry James Marshall's "Untitled (Studio)" in which an artist shapes a subject's face in preparation for being painted. Even the editor has a page, his "Endgame" poem coupled with "The Chess Players," a Liberale da Verona painting of 1475.

Both are engaging books celebrating art at its highest form and perfect for young readers.

If you want to catch live poetry before the month is up, visit the Festival of Words and NUNU Arts and Culture Collective’s "Every Woman," a celebration of women's voices in poetry, story and music, at 7 p.m. Wednesday April 25, 2018, at Chicory’s Coffee and Café in Grand Coteau. Featured performers include poet Clare L. Martin reading from her upcoming poetry collection, author Sherry Broussard sharing from her book of “Zydeco” and a performance by playwright Sue Schleifer. Women are invited to share original creative work and both men and women are invited to share favorite poems, stories and songs by or in honor of women. For more information, contact festivalwords@gmail.com or 337-254-9695. 

Clare L. Martin

Louisiana Book News is written by award-winning author Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes romances and mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Her first book in each series is FREE to download as an ebook, including "A Ghost of a Chance," the first Viola Valentine mystery.

Tuesday Ebook Spotlight: 'Voodoo You Think You Are'

G.A. Chase of New Orleans continues his Malveaux Curse Mystery series with a new book, "Look What You Made Me Voodoo," a follow-up to "Voodoo You Think You Are." Gotta love those titles.

Here's the book description: 

With Kendell and Myles safely back among the living, the task of keeping Colin in his place has fallen to Sanguine Delarosa. But as hell's angel, can she resist the devil's charms? In order to keep an eye on him, she may have to get emotionally and physically closer than she imagined possible. With the love of Sanguine, he may yet be saved. 

When Colin resorts to his old ways by stealing Kendell's soul, however, Sanguine must face the hard fact that he might not ever change. Meanwhile, the band, Myles, and the faithful dogs once again put everything at risk to rescue Kendell from hell.

Despite all of Colin's misdeeds, Sanguine listens to his master plan of relieving people from the inevitability of death. His offer of a partnership leaves her wondering if she could be instrumental in creating a better future for humanity--or if she should continue with the team's strategy for the devil's ultimate destruction.


Louisiana Book News is written by award-winning New Orleans author Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes romances and mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Her first book in each series is FREE to download as an ebook, including "A Ghost of a Chance," the first Viola Valentine mystery.

Terrebonne Parish Library up for national award

Terrebonne Parish Library System is one of 29 finalists for the 2018 National Media for Museum and Library Science award, the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries for service to the community. The library is known for producing community programs such as the Jambalaya Writers’ Conference, Terrebonne Comic Con and Terrebonne Games Expo. Each parish branch offers programs that target specific demographics in their area, according to the library's press release, such as East Houma Library’s Cinco de Mayo celebration, Dularge’s crafts and quilters club and Dulac’s ongoing community history preservation project.

World War II Museum

“The Pelican State Goes to War Symposium: Uniquely Louisiana” will be April 19 at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. Scheduled to speak are historians Gaines Foster, Maureen Honey, Sharlene Sinegal-DeCuir and the Museum's Samuel Zemurray Stone Senior Historian Rob Citino. The event will showcase how Louisiana was part of the country’s frantic build-up to war, and how wartime experiences laid the groundwork for the social and economic changes to the state in the years following the end of the war. In the afternoon, Richard Campanella, geographer and Senior Professor of Practice with the Tulane School of Architecture, will speak on New Orleans as a destination and crossroads of servicemembers in training, in transit or on leave during the war, and the impact they had on the city.

April is National Poetry Month

The second annual New Orleans Youth Poetry Festival will be April 18 and 20-21 in New Orleans, featuring three days of youth-focused writing and poetry performances. For more information, visit www.noyouthpoetryfestival.org.

Louisiana Poets

In celebration of National Poetry Month, the Louisiana Center for the Book presents the eighth annual "Just Listen to Yourself: The Louisiana Poet Laureate Presents Louisiana Poets" from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, in the Seminar Center of the State Library, 701 N. 4th St., Baton Rouge. Jack Bedell, Louisiana Poet Laureate, will host the event that includes 10 poets from across the state reading their work. Participating poets include Malaika Favorite, Amy Fleury, Ashley Havird, David Havird, Leigh Camacho Rourks, Mona Lisa Saloy, John Warner Smith and Andy Young, as well as previous Louisiana poet laureates Darrell Bourque and Julie Kane. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are welcome to bring a brown bag lunch.

Louisiana Book News is written by award-winning author Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes romances and mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Her first book in each series is FREE to download as an ebook, including "A Ghost of a Chance," the first Viola Valentine mystery.