Carnival Time in My Mind - by Abby Greenbaum Roniger (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Within these colorful pages, it's Carnival time all year long!

A young storyteller relives the memories from her most recent Mardi Gras, describing ladders on the neutral ground and the perennial favorite of a fried chicken meal on the parade route. From a streetcar ride on Twelfth Night, she rolls on through Fat Tuesday and meets Mardi Gras Indians and revels in king cake and the music of a marching band, capturing all the highlights of a local's Mardi Gras season. Who can forget spray string and stink bombs, the cotton candy cart, masking in the streets, and flambeaux lighting the way for night parades? As she Mardi Gras mambos and dances in the streets, she calls out for friends and relatives riding on floats to throw her something a little extra special.

This homage in verse captures a true local's version of a family-friendly Mardi Gras and celebrates a city's joy in its traditions. Children will find similarities between their own Carnival experiences and reflect on their own family's customs. For those new to the festivities, the images--saturated with all things purple, green, and gold--will introduce visitors and newcomers alike to the real Mardi Gras. The celebration is so much more than a party and parades. It's a holiday steeped in the culture of New Orleans and the joie de vivre of families and friends who come together during a special time of year to share in the revelry.

About the Author

Abby Greenbaum Roniger is a native New Orleanian with a love of Louisiana and New Orleans history and culture. She graduated from Louisiana State University then moved to Burlington, Vermont, where she earned a master's degree in Nutrition and Food Science from the University of Vermont. Abby has since returned to her home state, where she worked within the science and food industries in South Louisiana. She resides in Mandeville with her husband and young son. She enjoys traveling, cooking, and baking and is an avid LSU sports fan.

Abby shares a special bond with illustrator Eleanore Krentel Pitard. The two are cousins and grew up celebrating Mardi Gras together on St. Charles Avenue. Eleanore obtained her master's degree in Arts Administration from the University of New Orleans, where she discovered her true calling: teaching. She now teaches AP Art History and AP Studio Art and Design while also spearheading the ceramics program at her alma mater, St. Scholastica Academy in Covington, Louisiana, where she currently resides with her husband, their three children, and their dog Sam.