“No,
mon ami!” You can’t catch me! I’m the King Cake Baby!” So brags a little Mardi Gras trickster in this lively New Orleans adaptation of
The Gingerbread Man. The runaway king cake baby escapes an old Creole couple, a praline lady, and a waiter at Café du Monde, but he can’t outsmart the clever baker! After all, who knows better than a baker that a king cake baby belongs inside of a king cake?
This new adaptation of an old folktale will bring a tasty Mardi Gras tradition to life for readers of all ages. From Jackson Square to the Mississippi River, the story sparkles with French phrases, New Orleans colloquialisms, and vibrant, comic-book style artwork depicting the city’s characters and treasures. Just in case readers can’t get enough NOLA from the story alone, the book also includes a recipe for homemade king cake! Bon appétit!
About the Author
Keila V. Dawson was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the Crescent City has remained close to her heart in spite of her many travels abroad. She began her career working as a local community organizer, but she found her passion working with children as an early-childhood special-education instructor. In this, her first book, Dawson combines her love for children and her desire to keep alive the traditions of her hometown.
About the Illustrator
Vernon Smith printed his first book when he was in the first grade, and he hasn’t stopped illustrating since. He received the Judges’ Award and the Faculty Award for drawing while at the University of New Orleans and went on to open his own studio, El MacFearsome Comic Squares. Smith is an active comic book illustrator and regularly attends comic conventions and book signings around the country. He lives with his family in Metairie, Louisiana.
THE KING CAKE BABY
By Keila V. Dawson
Illustrated by Vernon Smith
JUVENILE FICTION / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Adaptations
JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / United States / General
32 pp. 8 1/2 x 11
31 color illus.
Ages 5-8 Grades K-3
ISBN 9781455620135 pb