Description: Zydeco--pure and beautiful and stomping good--takes the stage in a joyous celebration of extended family, community, and Louisiana culture.
Every year on the last Saturday in July, Broussard-Bouchard folks come from near and far to the Big Once-a-Year Broussard-Bouchard Family Reunion. Alaine's Auntie Yvette comes with the blanket she's always crocheting. Uncle Malik brings photos from his last trip to Africa. Daddy and the uncles play dominoes under the live oak tree while Bill Jr. carries a watermelon up from the creek where's it's been cooling. Cousin Neecy has organized the biggest Double Dutch game ever, but Alaine--who let Big Boy, the fluffy orange indoor cat, slip outside to certain doom--sits alone and worries. Until the first note sounds: zydeco, drawing her in with outstretched arms. Allons danser. When the music and dancing finally stop--until next year--who's waiting all curled up on the front porch, furry and orange and as safe as Alaine's secret? Brimming with Louisiana music, culture, and color, this vibrant and gorgeously illustrated portrait of family tradition will have you two-stepping in a heartbeat.Review Quotes: The exuberant artwork in this book mirrors the high-energy family and the raucous music. Readers who've never heard of this effervescent, regional music will be inspired to hear and learn more about it. This would be an excellent book to use in discussions of different kinds of family traditions or to introduce zydeco to young readers.
--School Library Journal
--Kirkus Reviews [A] jubilant work in which all's well that ends well. An author's note concludes.
--Publishers Weekly Each family member feels distinct and real. . . .
--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books