The King Cake Baby

In this New Orleans version of The Gingerbread Man, the King Cake Baby, a small figure that is traditionally baked inside a king cake during Carnival season, escapes and encounters various local characters as he runs across the French Quarter, heading for the Mississippi River. Includes a recipe for king cake.

"I once ate more than eighty king cakes in a single Carnival," author Matt Haines proudly remembers, demonstrating his dedication to this delicious Mardi Gras tradition. "So you can imagine how amazed I was to learn there has never been a coffee table book dedicated to king cakes!" The Big Book of King Cake changes that, telling the thousands-year-old story through lush photography of more than one hundred and fifty unique king cakes, as well as stories from the diverse and talented bakers who make them. While king cakes are typically only available during Carnival season, readers can enjoy this book year-round. From the traditional cakes generations of New Orleanians have loved, to the unconventional creations that break all the rules, this book is your guide to the Crescent City's favorite baked good. The Big Book of King Cake is for anyone who loves food, history, sweets, culture, and of course, New Orleans.

Having recently moved to New Orleans, seven-year-old Timmy is worried about the invitation he received for a king cake party, a Mardi Gras tradition celebrating the three wise men's visit to the baby Jesus.

Children will learn the meaning of Mardi Gras as told by Cassius, an adorable boxer, who loves Mardi Gras. The book begins with children discussing what they're going to "be" for Mardi Gras. Cassius overhears that one of the children is unaware of the Mardi Gras tradition. She then explains that carnival season begins with the epiphany (Jan. 6 when the three wise men found baby Jesus) and ends with Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday). The dog also explains many of the traditions and terns associated with Mardi Gras including King Cake parties, parades, krewes and doubloons. She shares the name of her favorite parade which happens to be a dog parade named the Krewe of Barkus. The story concludes with Cassius stating that she's going to be a wizard for Mardi Gras this year and asking "what are you going to be for Mardi Gras?". The book also contains a list of activities that children can do to celebrate Mardi Gras including a recipe for King Cake, instructions on how to make a shoe box float and how to have a mini-parade.

"Baboushka, verse by Edith M. Thomas, music by Mary Clement Sanks": p. [26]-[27].

Drummer Bobcat Bob leads a popular New Orleans band of multi-cultural musicians, but for months the music stops until a single drum beat on Bourbon Street begins to bring it back.

This baby memory book allows families to record all the milestones of a uniquely Louisiana childhood! The lively illustrated pages provide spaces for photos and notes for baby's first twelve months in this one-of-a-kind state, with pages for the first and second birthday too. Parents then can set down the dates and details for baby's first king cake, football game, festival, and much more!

Pastry chef Guas and food writer Pelzel delve into the rich fabric of the home-style sweets of New Orleans and its surrounding area. Through 50 amazing desserts, the authors transport cooks from their home kitchens into the giant dessert gumbo that is New Orleans.