Children's author Brian Floca chosen for Author-Illustrator Program Oct. 11 at Baton Rouge Library

The Author-Illustrator Program of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library presents award-winning author and illustrator Brian Floca, author/illustrator and illustrator of numerous books for children, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, at the Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge. Floca’s books include “Locomotive,” winner of the 2014 Caldecott Medal; “Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11,” “Lightship” and “The Racecar Alphabet.” This program is sponsored by Children’s Services of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library and the Patrons of the Public Library.

This free program is suitable for families. After Floca’s talk there will be a reception and an opportunity to have Floca autograph books purchased at the program; please do not bring other books. There will be pre-autographed book plates given away while supplies last. 

Teachers, librarians, writers, artists and children’s literature enthusiasts are invited to come back to the Library at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 12, for a special workshop presented by Floca. In this workshop, participants will enjoy a more in-depth look into Floca’s process. Registration and a fee of $25 for non-students and $10 for students with a valid school I.D. are required for this portion of the program. Pick up a registration form at any Library location. Doors open at 8 a.m. with a continental breakfast, and other light refreshments will be served. Again, only books that are purchased at each program are eligible for signing, so please do not bring other books.

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For more information about Floca, visit his website at www.brianfloca.com. To register for the Oct. 12 workshop, call the Main Library Children's Room at (225) 231-3760 to request a registration form or visit the Library's website at www.ebrpl.com. You also may register at the program.

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

Louisiana's Addie Broussard pens adorable children's book about a unique Portugal bug, offers giveaway

Louisiana author Addie Broussard was visiting Portugal when she discovered a fascinating little insect furiously digging in the sand. It resembled a bee but dug like a dog. Watching the insect, she came up with a fun children’s book idea.

The book follows Cora and schoolmate Manny traveling to the Praia do Carvalho beach in Portugal where after creating a sandcastle that resembles their cat, they discover an insect they dub the “Beedog.” Once they return home, they search online and find out the insect’s origins. The two share their findings in school the next day.

“Beedog,” with charming illustrations by Joyeeta Neogi, explain how children can spot insects, research them on the internet using identification techniques and offers more information on the sand wasp, as well as other wasps, in the back of the book. There are also two printable resources included in the book and a link to a video of a live sand wasp doing his thing and yes, he does dig like a dog.

 

This entertaining and educational book for children ages 4-8 has received great reviews and been a hot seller on Amazon. It’s also a handy complement to STEM education and home-school projects.

And...Addie is giving away a signed copy of the book, a bug kit and a Frisbee. Enter the contest here.

About the author

Addie Broussard is an avid traveler, and once went on a solo journey to 15 countries in one year. When she encounters something unique, she writes about it. Addie began her writing journey when she was just nine years old, with a book called "Doggienauts." That book has been updated and is set for publication in 2018. Addie is currently a full-time traveler and she considers home where her suitcase is.

About the illustrator, Joyeeta Neogi

Joyeeta Neogi is a children’s book illustrator who has worked with international authors and publishers. Her engagement with worldwide clients and multicultural themes has allowed her to create captivating original animal and child characters. Her art captures the expressions, movements and vibrancy of life within simple compositions to bring the author’s story to life. In her free time, Joyeeta is busy with painting and music. She loves to paint in oil and acrylic and has also developed a passion for watercolor.

For more information on Broussard and her books, visit http://twoumbrellasplease.com/.

Four authors to talk about their new children’s books

Note: This event was cancelled due to Tropical Storm Cindy but will be rescheduled.

Four New Orleans authors who have written children’s books will discuss them and talk about the unique process of creating children’s literature at 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 21, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. This event is free and open to the public and registration isn’t necessary.

The authors are: 

Kathy Schrenk, “A Dog Steals Home”

Zach Stewart’s life has never been more complicated. Between preparing for the arrival of his baby brother (“the little lizard”) and keeping up with the baseball team, Zach can hardly catch his breath. All he really wants is to adopt a puppy, but his parents insist that the timing isn’t right. In order to prove that he’s responsible, Zach decides to do his final research project on the animal shelter. Zach is sure that he’ll not only get the dog he wants but also prove to his team that he’s the best choice for pitcher. Everything is going perfectly—until Audrey, a girl in his class with a tragic past, disappears without a trace. Zach knows he is the only one who can find Audrey and convince her to come home. He might have to put his new puppy and his baseball career on the line—but he might hit a home run anyway.

New Orleans native Kathleen Schrenk has been pursuing her passion for volunteering since 2001. She received her bachelor’s degree in speech and language pathology from Louisiana State University and went on to work as a speech therapist and classroom teacher. Following Hurricane Katrina, Schrenk worked actively with volunteer groups to replant marsh grass in City Park and to restore sand dunes on the coast. A founding member of NOLA City Bark dog park, Schrenk also serves on the Louisiana SPCA board and is a member of the Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators.

Dalt Wonk, “The Laughing Lady”

“The Laughing Lady” is the fantasy villain in this children’s book. She lives in the Fun House with her fiancé, Boss Bones, a dapper (and greedy) skeleton. Florence, the little girl who is the hero of the tale enters the Fun House to save her pet Cockatoo, after the Laughing Lady steals it.

Florence, whose real father died several years ago, has a problem. Her mother wants to marry a rich man that Florence hates. Amid many adventures, Florence and her friends (including a shy skyrocket) discovers the answer to her real life problem. The book is accompanied by full-color illustrations.

Dalt Wonk was born in New Jersey in 1942. He attended Bard College, where he graduated with a B. A. After living a decade in France and England, he set sail on a cargo ship for New Orleans, where he has lived ever since. Wonk is a poet, a playwright and an illustrator. His plays have been produced in New York, London, Munich, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Atlanta, and New Orleans. His musical collaborators in theater have included Charles Neville (of the Neville Brothers), Julius Hemphill (of the World Saxophone Quartet) and Alvin Batiste, the late New Orleans Jazz composer.

Del-Rio Gardner, “A Promise Fulfilled”

Each day, Azyria prays for God to use her as a blessing. She feels that she is too young to make a big difference, but she knows God's grace reaches a lot farther than she can. Mrs. Jay recognizes God using the unlikely incidents to bless his people, so she prays for a small reminder that God loves her. When Azyria's kind deeds inspire others in the community to do the same, everyone is blessed, and Mrs. Jay realizes that a promise has been fulfilled.

Del-Rio Gardner is the owner of Divine Intervention Publishing located in Kenner. She says her goal is to write children’s books that will inspire children to love their community, to bring about change in the world. Gardner has a series of books coming out: Storytime with Jazzy the Giraffe and the Crew. The first book of the series is titled The Story of Creation and is told by Jazzy and her friends. This book also contains a bonus story titled Beauty and the Butterfly.  

Vernon Smith, “The Littlest Streetcar” 

Small and clunky, sandy and dull, Charlie is the smallest streetcar on the tracks in New Orleans. All the other cars are big, bright, shiny, and popular, and they leave sad little Charlie behind. They have jobs to do and they are much more important than the dusty, squatty car—or are they? When calamities strike, it’s Charlie who stands tall and finds his purpose. As he overcomes obstacles and fixes things, his confidence soars and Charlie realizes that he is an important part of the streetcar family. Being different makes him special.

Louisiana author and illustrator Vernon Smith based this story on the oldest New Orleans streetcar, NORTA 29. Built in 1896 and the last of the FB&D cars in existence, NORTA 29 is still in use today, traveling the tracks making sure the bigger cars can run safely. A graduate of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, Smith received a BFA from the University of New Orleans. He provides marketing artwork for businesses in both independent and corporate arenas through his studio, MacFearsome Comic Squares. Smith’s work is featured on GeeksOfDoom.com and ComicsAlliance.com. He has worked on several comic-book series, including his own “The Adventures of Dexter Breakfast” and the successfully crowdfunded Hide.

For more information regarding this presentation, contact Chris Smith, Manager of Adult Programming for the library, at 504-889-8143 orwcsmith@jefferson.lib.la.us.

Cheré Coen is the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country.” She writes Louisiana romances under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.

Poetry reading, children's books program and more

Six Louisiana authors will read original poems as part of "Image to Word," inspired by photographs from Leo Touchet’s photography exhibition, “People Among Us,” currently on display at the Acadiana Center for the Arts. The event will be 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 10, at the downtown Lafayette art gallery. The exhibition of large black and white photographs is a retrospective collection of photographs from Touchet’s 50-year career as a photojournalist. Over the past month, selected poets have observed the photos and crafted poems. The program is free.

The authors are: former Louisiana Poet Laureate Darrell Bourque, the founder of The Amédé Ardoin Project and author of ‘Where I Waited,” a set of poems with paintings by Bill Gingles; Patrice Melnick, executive director of the Festival of Words, a rural, literary arts organization in Grand Coteau; Psychologist Elizabeth Burk, author of the chapbooks “Learning to Love Louisiana” and “Louisiana Purchase;” Genaro Kỳ Lý Smith, creative writing professor at Louisiana Tech and author of “The Land Baron’s Son” and “The Land South of the Clouds;” Sidney Creaghan, award-winning visual artist and poet and author of “Sweet Threads of Memory;” and Sandra Sarr, who is revising her novel, “The Road to Indigo,” at the Tin House Writing Workshop this summer.

Creating Books for Children

Local children’s book writers and illustrators will be on hand for the Creating Books for Children panel discussion Monday, June 12, at the South Regional Library in Lafayette. Book sales and signings will follow the panel discussion and refreshments will be served. The discussion is sponsored by the Acadiana Group of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Authors and illustrators include: John and Phyllis Comeaux, author of “Winnie and the Mystery of the Missing Moonstones” and “Winnie and the Trouble with Trolls;” Denise Gallagher, writer/illustrator of “A Tip Tap Tale,” coming from University of Louisiana Press this fall; Barry Ancelet, author of “Jean-le-Chasseur et ses chiens,” illustrated by Gallagher; Taylor Overbey, author of “The Snit and George Franklin Whit” and “The I-Wants and the Gimmees;” Nancy Rust and Carol Stubbs, author of “What’s Watching Me? and Other Animal Stories;” Paul Schexnayder, writer/illustrator of “In the Time of Comfort and Joy,” coming from University of Louisiana Press this fall; Margaret Simon, author of “Blessen;” and Ann Trousdale, author of “Cotton Patch Rebel: The Story of Clarence Jordan.”

Book events for June 4-10, 2017

Elizabeth Schexnyder, curator of the National Hansen’s Disease Programs Museum, will share the story of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, who cared for quarantined patients from 1896-2005 at what would later become the National Leprosarium at Carville, at 1 p.m. today at Lafayette’s South Regional Library.

At Garden District Book Shop of New Orleans this week: C.D. (Cheri) Collins discusses and signs her book, “Arise and Call Her Blessed: A Daughter's Memoir” at 2 p.m. today; Laura Cayouette signs “The Hidden Hunstman: A Charlotte Reade Mystery” at 6 p.m. Tuesday; Abby Stern signs “According to a Source” at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

It’s Family Movie Day beginning at 1 p.m. Friday at the West Ouachita Branch Library. Friday’s movie is “Meet the Robinsons,” appropriate for all ages. Visit www.oplib.org for more information.

Bring your original poetry, short stories or songs and share at Open Mic Night, beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday at CC’s Coffee House, 2350 Tower Drive in Monroe. Teens and adults welcome.

Cheré Coen is the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country.” She writes Louisiana romances under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.