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From its festive Mardi Gras parades to its wildlife-filled swamps, Louisiana is a state of great diversity. "P is for Pelican: A Louisiana Alphabet" is an alphabet book that introduces readers young and old to the culture, history, and wonders of this Gulf state. Author Anita C. Prieto's fun-filled rhymes and informative text are highlighted by artist Laura Knorr's vivid and descriptive artwork.
Beautiful book -- wonderful information!Reviewed by Louisiana Teacher, 2008-12-14
This book has the most beautiful illustrations! Also, the author made excellent choices when deciding topics for each letter of the alphabet and really covered well the unique culture of Louisiana.
Louisiana, how I love her, Louisiana, that's my home!Reviewed by Judy K. Polhemus, 2008-10-16
As a full-fledged Louisianian, born and reared here, I was fully
expecting to find omissions, errors in "P is for Pelican: A
Louisiana Alphabet Edition," but, hooray, I could not.
Why was I so testy? The writer, Anita C. Prieto, is a full-fledged
Louisianian, too, but the illustrator, Laura Knorr, is not. I tried
to think of various letters of words that might be better than
theirs, but their every choice was superior. For example, I thought
of azalea, but their alligator is much better known than the
ubiquitous pink blossom so abundant every spring.
Perhaps my one better choice, Tabasco Hot Sauce is made on Avery
Island, the only place in the world where these red peppers grow
for this red hot sauce, in place of Tarpon Rodeo, a fishing contest
that takes place in the Gulf of Mexico. We in North Louisiana don't
know of this contest, but everyone knows of McIlnneys Tabasco Hot
Sauce, poured over even scrambled eggs in the morning.
My Louisiana Hayride does not supersede the Louisiana Purchase,
chosen for the book. I could have picked Strawberries for S, but
the author/illustrator chose Superdome. See what I mean? Although
strawberries are BIG in the spring all over the state, they cannot
outshine the Superdome.
My word for B, Bayou, might be better than Beignet, famously known
in New Orleans but not up in the northern half where bayous are
almost as plentiful as in the southern half. However, I concede to
Beignets for their touristy dominion and fabulous taste with cafe
au lait (half coffee, half milk, sweetened). There is nothing like
the two together!
N is for Nutria, mais oui, which are big ol' rat-thing rodents with
big, orange teeth, very destructive. They came from Argentina to be
raised for their fur, but escaped into free range roaming and now
cover all of South Louisiana, and into other states. When I first
began my teaching career in South Louisiana, students often told me
they made more money as students trapping nutria and selling their
fur than I did as a teacher. They were, of course, right.
Other famous Louisiana symbols:
C for Crawfish (that's how we spell it here)
E for Egret ( a large one and a small one live on the bayou behind
my house, along with a blue heron)
H for Hurricane
K for King Cake (not the best in the world but, ah, the fun of
biting into the baby--naw, not explaining)
M for Mardi Gras
V for Vieux Carre (so characteristic of New Orleans)
Z for Zydeco (a musical form that is a "mixture of Afro-Caribbean
rhythm, old-time blues, and Cajun music"--the traditional music of
Black Creoles of southwest Louisiana).
The book concludes with "Pelican Puzzles." Examples are: What is a
rubbord and What is the Vieux Carre? The answers are on the next
page. A rubbord is a zydeco instrument that resembles a wash board.
Vieux Carre was the original city now within New Orleans. It means
Old Square.
I have had so much fun going through this book, renewing my
knowledge of the state. Please note the line from our state song in
the title slot at the top. Only one term was new to me: Islenos,
Spanish-descended people who live in St. Bernard Parish. Oh,
definitely, Parish could have been the P word, except Pelican (the
state bird) is.
For those interested in their states or Canada or China or
Australia, here are select titles:
L is for Lobster, (Maine),
V is for Viking: A Minnesota Alphabet Edition 1. (Discover America
State By State. Alphabet Series), or
G is for Garden State: A New Jersey Alphabet Edition 1. (Discover
America State By State. Alphabet Series),
L Is for Lone Star: A Texas Alphabet (Alphabet Series)
G is for Golden: A California Alphabet,
S Is For Show Me: A Missouri Alphabet (Discover America State by
State).
G Is for Golden Boy: A Manitoba Alphabet (Discover Canada), due out
in April 2009. Until then:
M Is for Maple: A Canadian Alphabet (Discover Canada Province by
Province)
C Is for China (World Alphabets)
Australia ABCs: A Book About the People and Places of Australia
(Country Abcs)
FunReviewed by Samira Peterson, 2008-06-22
It was a fun book. A great way to learn about the history of state.
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