Festivals Books

Louisiana Breakdown is an impressively written and thoroughly entertaining novel by Lucius Shepard that blends superstition and lore with faith, potions, and machinations. When a new figure arrives in a small Louisiana because his BMW breaks down, he becomes caught up in the town's tradition of appointing a ten-year-old Midsummer Queen every twenty years. A dark fantasy, Louisiana Breakdown is commended as an imaginative and thought-provoking tale of the fantastic.

Two centuries ago, the townspeople of Grail, Louisiana made a deal with the entity they call the Good Gray Man. The Good Gray Man promised good fortune to the town as long as it provided him with a Midsummer Queen he found acceptable. Accordingly, every twenty years, the town elects a 10-year-old girl to be their Midsummer Queen, the person who draws all of the town's bad luck to her for the next two decades until the next queen is selected, and the Good Gray Man comes to take her away forever.

As this year's Midsummer's Night Eve approaches, the town prepares to choose a new Queen. The reigning Queen, the exquisite Vida Dumars, knows her time is short, that the Good Gray Man will soon come for her. Although Vida has faithfully served as the town's Queen, she's not ready to go-thus, she prays for a champion to appear.

Enter one Jack Mustaine, who blows into town after his BMW breaks down outside of Grail. Vida casts her spells on Jack, and he falls for her like a ton of bricks. But is Jack the champion she seeks? That's a question nobody can answer until Jack comes face to face with the Good Gray Man.

Filled with tension and lurking menace, peopled by fascinating characters, LOUISIANA BREAKDOWN provides further evidence that Lucius Shepard is one of the most original and talented writers working in the field of dark fantasy today. In its first six pages, Shepard creates a living, breathing microcosm, a realistic stage free from cliché. He peoples this world with characters so vivid they threaten to step off the page. He then proceeds to tell a story about good, evil, love, superstition, and destiny, using the traditional elements of dark fantasy to explore his characters' psyches. Told with exquisite compassion, Shepard's novella provided one of 2003's more satisfying reading experiences. Illustrated by J. K. Potter, it's also one of the nicest packages Golden Gryphon has ever offered.

This captivating alphabet book is the perfect choice to enhance your child's Christmas spirit. Entertaining and heart-warming verses highlight various symbols of the season. The author also includes information about Christmas celebrations in other parts of the world and the story of the origins of Santa. A delight for children and their families, and a useful resource for the classroom.

I really enjoyed sharing M is for Mistletoe with my kids. Not only does the book reinforce alphabet learning with the sweet rhymes for each letter, but it reminds me of all the fun, laughter and love that are part of a great holiday season. This is also a wonderful book for educators of young children to enjoy with their charges at holiday time

A poignant, old-fashioned Christmas story that still applies in today's world. It's simple reminder to cherish all the truly valuable people and ideals in our life couldn't come at a better time. Gorman is able to touch our hearts and minds with his insight into his main character, Matt. Matt teaches us a valuable lesson with his magic Christmas train, and brings us hope that over time we can continue the magic...a truly wonderful story for anytime of the year!

being a huge fan of Chris VanAllsburg, i was worried that The Magic Christmas Train was going to be similiar to VanAllsburg's Polar Express, but i found myself surprisingly surprised in its originality. my sister, who is an elementary school teacher and mother to a seven year old daughter, told me about The Magic Christmas Train. i am also an elementary school teacher and a collector of children's books. Gorman's character, Matt, and the innocence that lies within him, as he wanders through a department store to discover a magical toy train that he can conduct himself is vividly captured, as the most exciting holiday for most children approaches. it's a well written, highly imaginaive story that belongs in everyone's collection. i can't wait until Christmas so that i can share with my students.

Donna Diamond illustrates The Magic Menorah, a wonderfully told and modern Chanukah story, which will appeal to ages 7-10. Stanley hates Chanukah: he has to deal with noisy relatives, clean the house, and finds little to celebrate. When he finds an antique menorah and a genie, he is taken on a time trip which demonstrates the value of Chanukah in his life.

Stanley Green never looked forward to Chanukah. He felt it was more trouble than it was worth. All his relatives came to his house with their sloppy hugs and kisses, his little cousins fought and yelled, got into his things, and made a big mess. There was too much cooking, and his arm ached from grating potatoes and chopping onions for the latkes. And there was too much cleaning before the celebration, and even more afterwards. Worst of all, on Chanukah, a supposedly happy holiday, his Grandpa Abe was always quiet and very sad. This year something new was added to the usual routine. Stanley was sent up to the attic to find an old wrapped package in the large trunk. He'd never seen it before and with his curiosity getting the better of him, carefully opened the brown paper to find a tarnished menorah. As he began to wipe off the dust, he wondered why anyone would want this old thing. Just as he finished examining it more closely, and polishing the shammash until it glowed, the floor began to shake, a big puff of smoke erupted, and a very old man appeared in front of him..... Jane Breskin Zalben has written a lovely and memorable Chanukah story, with a simple and gentle message, that won't be lost on young readers. Her engaging and entertaining text, complete with yiddish words and expressions, is complemented by Donna Diamond's old photograph-like artwork, and together they've authored a tender and poignant story of love, family, and the true meaning of happiness. There's even a glossary included at the end of the story, to help with the yiddish and enhance learning. Perfect as a reading book for youngsters 8 and older, The Magic Menorah makes an even better read-aloud story the entire family can share and enjoy together.

A child tells of going to Kol Nidre service for the first time with his grandfather, who speaks of the ancient prayer's magic.
This most solemn prayer of the year is sung three times--asking forgiveness for promises made to God which could not be kept during the preceeding year.

Years later, the child holds his own infant as Kol Nidre is sung, dusting her nose with his Tzistit, the fringe of his prayer shawl, and still failing to grasp the meaning of the magic his grandfather told of.

Still later, an old man himself, with a 6-year-old grandson at his side, the magic finally comes into full focus: It is the people, who come to Kol Nidre, knowing and not knowing the significance of this mystical prayer. He can now explain the magic it has taken an entire lifetime for him to comprehend.

But there is more to the secret. If you want to know, buy this book, and share the magic with your children. It will make you cry tears of joy. Alyssa A. Lappen

I teach a Judaic class for fourth graders. This book explained the meaning of Kol Nidre in a serious albeit touching story. A very good book.

Paul takes his readers back in time and lets us be a part of the family togheterness as they prepare their holiday decorations and hunt for the perfect Christmas Tree. There's the teasing of a big brother, and the scheming of a well-meaned father. What a surprise the entire family gets whe it really is Santa that appears through the magic telescope. The magic doesn't stop there, however. The telescope disappears! What is found in its place is a treasured keepsake ornament that Paul has kept in his family ever since. It's a token reminder of what happens when we keep our childlke faith and we truly believe.

This book takes me back to when i was a child and how my brother laughed at me for still believing in Santa Clause. It reinforces what my father told me many years ago, "Great things happen to those who believe". This book has become a favorite to both me and my son who insists that i read it to him every night. I would highly recommend the Magic Telescope to anyone who believes in the magic of Christmas.

I am a sucker for Diane Goode's books, and "Mama's Perfect Present" is no exception. A young Parisian brother and sister set out to make their mama's birthday absolutely perfect, but run into bits of trouble along the way. When they finally show up at home with their gift, it turns out to incorporate all the trouble they ran into in putting it together--but in a most charming and unusual way. I don't want to say anything more detailed or I'll give it away!

Not only is the story charming (with all loose strings nicely tied up by the end), but the illustrations are up to Goode's usual high standards. The coloring is soft and washed-looking. The story is set in perhaps the 1920s or 1930s in Paris, with all the women having sleek, marcelled hair, fur stoles, and ghillie shoes--and the men sporting dapper moustaches, trim suits, and perfectly manicured hands. It's a visual treat to watch the children bounce from store to store, taking in all the undeniably French atmosphere, made vivid and real-yet-idealized through Goode's luscious pictures.

Two children and their dog set out to find THE perfect present for their mother. As we all know, finding the perfect present for a friend or relative can be quite an ordeal. The children visit many stores and find several lovely items that aren't quite what they want. Still, they search onward and we find out that the children have, in fact, found the perfect present for their mama.

This book's illustrations are fabulous. They are cheerful and soft looking. The children have such simple, yet sweet expressions. And, one of my favorite parts of this book is the spoof of George Seraut's "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte."

What a charming and delightful read! I also thoroughly enjoyed Where's our Mother? by Diane Goode.

Very colorful and well done pictionary type book. My party guests seemed to all spend some time brushing up on their mardis gras knowledge.

This book beautifully describes the Mardi Gras tradition of Louisiana and defines things related to it. Did you know that a scepter is held by a ruler as a sign of authority? Now I do too.

Schindler, himself a treasure-trove of history and lore of New Orleans' "golden age", shares through lucid and eloquent essays and stunning color plates the story of the evolution of the Carnival street pageant, from its beginnings in pre-Civil War affluence to the great depression of the 1930s. He weaves a tapestry of social, political and economic events through the warp of the lives of the great artists and artistic movements that shaped the unique street parades of the New Orleans Carnival. From the sadly anonymous creator of the 1858 Comus pageant memorialized in the London Illustrated News through the accomplishments of prolific Virginia Wilkinson Wilde and the remarkable Plauche family in the last century, Schindler offers a rich chronicle of the men and women who created a unique art form that provided mass public entertainment long before the invention of the motion picture projector and cathode ray tube. Those of us who have enjoyed his prior publications, Mardi Gras and Invitations of the Golden Age will delight in this latest addition to the multi-layered history of New Orleans' pre-Lenten celebration. Readers new to Schindler's magic will eagerly await his next opus.

Mardi Gras Treasures charts the specialty parade floats of Carnival in New Orleans from 1870-1930, examining classic and artistic themes and recreating original float designs in watercolor and lithographs. The author, Henri Schindler, has himself designed Mardi Gras parades and balls for some time: his striking full-color illustrations will appeal to a wide audience, from float designers to artists with a special interest in New Orleans works and history.

Whether your interest is socio-cultural, historical or purely aesthetic, you will treasure Henri Schindler's latest passport to the "Golden Age" of the New Orleans Carnival celebration. Schindler, who is himself a treasure-trove of information on this subject, has put together a most interesting documentary providing an in-depth discussion of the historical roots of the pre-Lenten festival against a background of the artists, illustrators and patrons who gave the "Golden Age" its particular look and ambience. The quality of the color reproductions of the invitations that make up a major part of the book is most impressive. The color and clarity of these (mostly) art nouveau works comes across on each page, leaving the reader with the feeling that he or she has truly been a part of this romantic era.

Over two hundred invitations, dance cards and admit cards are assembled here in a coverage of the art work associated with the Mardi Gras which began in the 1870s and was marked by pageants and private balls. While Mardi Gras Treasures is a specialty collection of interest to those researching New Orleans collectibles and Mardi Gras collectibles in particular, many a reader will delight in these full-page illustrations.