April 2006

Noteworthy Events
Two of Pelican’s children’s book authors recently visited elementary schools to read from their latest works and inspire children to read and write. On February 21, Denise Walter McConduit, author of D.J. and the Jazz Fest (9781565542396), illustrated by Emile F. Henriquez, visited E.P.I.C. Elementary School in Birmingham, Alabama, where a jazz band livened up the presentation. Peter J. Welling, author and illustrator of Joe Van Der Katt and the Great Picket Fence (9781589802810), visited Jones Elementary in Portage, Indiana, on March 2. In honor of Welling’s visit, the children lined the halls of the school with their stories and drawings.
Henri Schindler, the author of the Mardi Gras Treasures Series received recognition from national and foreign media when he was interviewed by a Canadian documentary filmmaker and CNN. On February 28, the interview on CNN aired along with images from Mardi Gras Treasures: Invitations of the Golden Age (9781565547223) and Mardi Gras Treasures: Costume Designs of the Golden Age (9781565547247).

 

The New Orleans Museum of Art, closed due to damage from Hurricane Katrina, reopened its doors on March 3. The reopening was a weekend-long celebration called "The HeART of New Orleans." Two of Pelican’s authors read and answered questions. Kerri McCaffety, author and photographer of The Majesty of the French Quarter (9781565544147), shared views about the city’s most famous neighborhood. Freddi Williams Evans, author of The Battle of New Orleans: The Drummer’s Story (9781589803008), shared her delightful children’s story about "Old Jordan," the drummer who inspired Andrew Jackson’s troops during the Battle of New Orleans.

On March 4, Leah Chase conducted a cooking school on Creole cooking along with Chef Poppy Tooker. Chase, author of The Dooky Chase Cookbook (9780882896618), Leah Chase: Listen, I Say Like This (9781589800489), and And Still I Cook (9781565548237), will use the funds generated from the cooking school to purchase restaurant equipment for the Dooky Chase restaurant, nearly destroyed by five feet of floodwater after Hurricane Katrina.

Author Signings

Peggy Thomas, author of Joshua the Giant Frog (9781589802674), will be signing her book at Goodbuy Books in Rensselaer, New York, on April 1.
Illustrator Chuck Galey will be signing copies of his latest book, Jazz Cats (9781565548596), written by David R. Davis, at the Amory Municipal Public Library in Amory, Mississippi, on April 13, at 3:30 p.m.

 

Donald L. Gilmore, author of Civil War on the Missouri-Kansas Border (9781589803299), will begin his tour of Missouri and Kansas by signing copies of his book at the following Borders bookstores: on April 15 in Independence, Missouri, from 1:00-2:00 p.m., on April 21 in Overland Park, Kansas, and on April 29 in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. Both Kansas signings will be held from 2:00-3:00 p.m.

 

The Texas Library Association will hold its annual conference in Houston, Texas, from April 25 through April 28. Six Pelican authors are invited to speak at this year’s conference! Celebrated young-adult author and poet, Steven L. Layne, will participate in a panel discussion and sign copies of his latest young-adult novel, Mergers (9781589801837). Author David R. Davis will be signing Ten Redneck Babies (9781589802322) and several titles from The Night Before Christmas Series. Melanie Chrismer, author of the Phoebe Clappsaddle Series, Sherry Garland, author of Voices of the Alamo (9781589802223), Ann Parr, author of Gordon Parks: No Excuses (9781589804111), Dotti Enderle‚ author of The Cotton Candy Catastrophe at the Texas State Fair (9781589801899), and Wanda Dionne, author of Little Thumb (9781565547544), will also be attending.
The Fifty-first Annual Convention for the International Reading Association (IRA) will be held in Chicago, Illinois, from April 30 to May 4 and will bring in thousands of educators from around the world. Five of Pelican’s authors will be attending: Peter J. Welling, author and illustrator of Joe Van Der Katt and the Great Picket Fence (9781589802810), Frank Blazek, author of Phil and His Fabulous Feathers (9781589802803), Laura Crawford, author of The Pilgrims’ Thanksgiving from A to Z (9781589802384), Joe Novara, author of Wa-Tonka! Camp Cowboys (9781589803541), and Steven L. Layne, the recipient of the IRA’s Children Choices Selection for The Teachers’ Night Before Christmas (9781565548336).

 

On a Solemn Note

Pelican Publishing sends condolences to the family of dear friend and beloved artist Earl Hébert, illustrator of Zydeco Shoes: A Sensory Tour of Cajun Culture (9781589802469). Mr. Hébert began painting as a hobby in the late 1970s and experienced incredible success despite his lack of formal training. He maintained his own gallery in the French Quarter of New Orleans for over fifteen years.

Praise for Pelican titles:
Verses for Mom’s Heart (9781589803206), by Steven L. Layne:

"From these poignant pages I found comfort in knowing that my children will someday feel the same realizations Layne expresses in his verses. The illustrations by Gail Greaves Klinger are a highlight of the book. [Her] style of colored pencil on textured paper gives each illustration a depth."                                 --Jackie Riley, Times-Record News, Wichita Falls, TX

Zydeco Shoes: A Sensory Tour of Cajun Culture (9781589802469), edited by Alexandria Hayes with illustrations by Earl Hébert:

"Incorporates the joie de vivre of the people depicted in Hébert’s art."    --The Arizona Republic

The Battle of New Orleans: The Drummer’s Story (9781589803008), by Freddi Williams Evans with illustrations by Emile F. Henriquez:

"The artwork by Emile Henriquez is colorful, and his depictions of the battleground layout and the fight scenes will help illicit comments and questions from children."                                                                     --Times-Record, Wichita Falls, TX

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