“D.J.’s rough-and-tumble character contrasts entertainingly with the formal situation in which he finds himself. Young readers will sympathize with his resistance to becoming more civilized and they may pick up some tips about manners along the way.”
—New Orleans Times-Picayune
“Here is a delightful little book that helps us understand the Mardi Gras mystique and gives us another chapter in D.J.’s adventurous life.”
—Columbus (Miss.) Commercial Dispatch
At D.J.’s grandfather’s birthday dinner, an announcement is made. D.J. learns that his sister will be the queen of the debutante ball and that he will be a page. He soon discovers that being involved in a debutante ball is a lot of work and includes learning how to be a gentleman.
After one day there, D.J. and his cousin Alex prove to be washouts at the Maison de Etiquette School. However, Grandfather saves the day when he invites D.J. and Alex for a weekend away to learn about manners. Instead of being a chore, learning how to be a gentleman becomes an adventure for D.J. and his cousin.
D.J. and the Debutante Ball is a great book for all those little boys who love being boys and think that manners are just for girls. Sometimes, even little boys have to be gentlemen, as D.J. discovers, and this book makes learning etiquette fun.
About the Author
Denise Walter McConduit comes from a family of thirteen children and is a New Orleans native and mother of four. Her work has appeared in Essence, Black New Orleans, and the New Orleans Tribune. Currently, she serves on the advisory board of the Friends of New Orleans Public Library and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. The character of D.J. is based on her own son and headlines her previous two titles with Pelican: D.J. and the Zulu Parade and D.J. and the Jazz Fest.
About the Illustrator
Emile F. Henriquez is currently design coordinator at Textron Marine and Land Systems. He studied drawing, painting, design, and art history at Tulane University and has worked as a graphic illustrator since 1963. He also collaborated with Ms. McConduit on the previous two D.J. titles.
D.J. AND THE DEBUTANTE BALL
by Denise Walter McConduit
Illustrated by Emile F. Henriquez
JUVENILE FICTION / Social Issues / New Experience
32 pp. 8 1/2 x 11
31 color illus.
Ages 5-8
ISBN: 9781589801738 hc