“Believe you me, I’m gonna get away! You not gonna taste this little beignet!”
—Beignet Boy
In the heart of New Orleans lived an old baker named Marcel who made the most delicious beignets in the entire city. While his heart is filled with kindness, his home is cold and lonely. To repay some gratitude, a mysterious stranger grants Marcel a wish with his magic bag of sugar in this Louisiana-flavored retelling of a classic tale. Out of the sugared pastry pops the beignet boy with a penchant for trouble, who zips from Canal Street through Jackson Square and the French Market. His hilarious antics, a smattering of French phrases, and New Orleans cultural icons scattered like powdered sugar on the deliciously re-spun story will delight readers of all ages.
Illustrator Herb Leonhard brings this little beignet to life with a mischievous grin and a sprinkle of sugar. His images of New Orleans dance across the pages, bringing a true taste of the city to the story. Author Connie Collins Morgan draws upon her memories of life in Louisiana—and her favorite treats—to make this retelling stand apart from the rest with an infectious jazz beat and the sweet aroma of magic sugar in its wake.
About the Author
Connie Collins Morgan grew up minutes away from the magical bayous of Lafayette Parish in Louisiana. Her deep passion for the power of the written word led her to a degree in elementary education from the University of Southwestern Louisiana and then to an MFA in children’s literature from Hollins University. She and her husband live in the mountains of West Virginia near their four children but far from her Cajun home. Her French heritage, however, remains always close at heart.
About the Illustrator
Herb Leonhard received a BFA in illustration from the Pacific Northwest College of Art. His award-winning work has appeared in D Magazine, among other publications. He is also the illustrator of several Pelican books, including St. Patrick and the Three Brave Mice, A Southern Child’s Garden of Verses, Leonardo’s Monster, I Know a Librarian Who Chewed on a Word, A is for Alliguitar, and Southern Mother Goose. Leonhard lives in Prosser, Washington.
THE RUNAWAY BEIGNET
By Connie Collins Morgan
Illustrated by Herb Leonhard
JUVENILE FICTION / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Adaptations
JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / United States / General
32 pp. 8 1/2 x 11
31 color illus. Glossary
Ages 5-8 Grades K-3
ISBN: 9781455619122