Somewhere in the Bayou


Book Description

Simple, subtle, and drolly funny, the Pumphrey brothers’ newest picture book is a layered exploration of the foolishness of making assumptions and the virtue of curiosity. When four swamp creatures looking to cross a river come upon a log that would allow for precisely that, they can’t believe their luck. But a questionable tail adjacent to that log gives them second thoughts. Opossum believes it’s a sneaky tail and that they must pass it quietly. Squirrel thinks it’s a scary tail that can be cowed by intimidation. Rabbit decides it’s a mean tail that deserves a taste of its own medicine. As the critters exhaust approaches one by one, Mouse, the smallest of the lot, observes their folly and adjusts accordingly. But is it the mouse or the tail that will defy expectations? Pairing their iconic illustration style with a wry irreverence, the Pumphrey brothers have crafted a delightful tale that reminds us to think before we act.




The Old Truck


Book Description

A young girl turns her imagination into action in this beautifully crafted and intricately designed debut picture book. When is an old truck something more? On a small, bustling farm, a resilient and steadfast pickup works tirelessly alongside the family that lives there, and becomes a part of the dreams and ambitions of the family’s young daughter. After long days and years of hard work leave the old truck rusting in the weeds, it’s time for the girl to roll up her sleeves. Soon she is running her own busy farm, and in the midst of all the repairing and restoring, it may be time to bring her faithful childhood companion back to life. With an eye-catching retro design and cleverly nuanced illustrations, The Old Truck celebrates the rewards of determination and the value of imagination.




The Old Boat


Book Description

A Washington Post Best Children's Book of 2021 A New York Public Library Best Book of 2021 The creators of The Old Truck set sail with an old boat and an evocative, intricately crafted exploration of home and family. Off a small island, an old boat sets sail and a young boy finds home. Together, boy and boat ride the shifting tides, catching wants and wishes until fate calls for a sea change. Brothers and collaborators Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey’s newest picture book is a masterfully crafted celebration of the natural world and tribute to the families we make and the homes that we nurture.




Alligator Bayou


Book Description

An unforgettable novel, based on a true story, about racism against Italian Americans in the South in 1899. Fourteen-year-old Calogero, his uncles, and his cousins are six Sicilians living in the small town of Tallulah, Louisiana, miles from any of their countrymen. They grow vegetables and sell them at their stand and in their grocery store. Some people welcome the immigrants; most do not. Calogero's family is caught in the middle of tensions between the black and white communities. As Calogero struggles to adapt to Tallulah, he is startled and thrilled by the danger of midnight gator hunts in the bayou and by his powerful feelings for Patricia, a sharp-witted, sweet-natured black girl. Meanwhile, every day, and every misunderstanding between the white community and the Sicilians, bring Calogero and his family closer to a terrifying, violent confrontation. In this affecting and unforgettable novel, Donna Jo Napoli's inspired research and spare, beautiful language take the classic immigrant story to new levels of emotion and searing truth. Alligator Bayou tells a story that all Americans should know.




Bayou Born


Book Description

"Edwards [creates] amazing fantasy worlds that the reader becomes completely engrossed in." Goodreads Her beginning may be our end . . . Deep in the humid Mississippi bayou, a half-wild child is dragged from the murky waters. She has no memories, no family and is covered in mysterious markings. Adopted by the policeman who rescued her, Luce Boudreau follows him onto the force, determined to prove herself in the eyes of those who are still suspicious. However, there's more of a battle ahead than Luce could possibly imagine. She may be an orphan without a past, but no one - including Luce herself - could ever be prepared for the truth of her dark, powerful destiny . . "Well-plotted fantasy continues to engage the reader with its intriguing characters, heart-pounding action, suspenseful intrigue and subtle romance." RT Book Reviews "The world building is fresh ... The characters are well-drawn and easy to root for. And the romance really hits the spot." Red Hot Books




Bayou Underground


Book Description

A veteran music journalist explores rock-n-roll’s bayou roots in “a jolting 18-track joy ride [that] unlocks secrets and back-stories worth savoring” (The Wall Street Journal). The bayou of the American south—stretching from Houston, Texas, to Mobile, Alabama—is a world all its own, with a rich cultural heritage that has had an outsized influence on musicians across the globe. In this unique study of marsh music, Dave Thompson goes beyond the storied stomping grounds of New Orleans to discover secret legends and vivid mythology in the surrounding wilderness. In Bayou Underground, the people who have called the bayou home—such as Bob Dylan, Jerry Reed, Nick Cave, Bo Didley, a one-armed Cajun backwoodsman, and gator hunter named Amos Moses—are unearthed through their own words, their lives and music, and interviews with residents from the region. Included interviews with legendary musicians like Jerry Reed and Bo Didley, Bayou Underground is part travelogue, part social history, and part lament for a way of life that has now all but disappeared.




Beyond the Bayou


Book Description




Muddy Bayou


Book Description

Raleigh Cheramie knows what normal is. Of course, she only gets to stare at it from a distance, but it doesn't mean she can't recognize it when she sees it. Raleigh is the granddaughter of a traiteur, a Cajun folk healer. Even with her unusual genetic inheritance she could fall somewhere in the range of normal if she wouldn't have the additional quirk of being traiteur to the dead. It's an ability she'd like to return to her ancestors until her sister and first cousin turn up missing. Now she must try to use her talent to find the living by connecting to the dead when she'd much rather figure out the attraction driving her crazy each time the detective on her sister's case is nearby.




I Got by


Book Description

Author Harry Marlin met everything including life head on. He spent his childhood in tiny depression-ridden Blanket, Texas, and matured during 50 combat missions over Germany. His thinking and personality were forever colored by both experiences. Opinionated, blunt and uncompromisingly candid, he was talented beyond belief. He was a Steel guitar musician, photographer, Police Officer, Columnist and Book Author. Harry could be humorous, hauntingly profound and compassionate, all in the one paragraph. Called the Will Rogers of Central Texas, Marlin wrote a weekly column for the Brownwood Bulletin over a period of 11 years. I Got By presents the second volume of compilations of his best stories taking a humorous look back at growing up and facing life's challenges through every generation. "Crime Didn't Pay and Nothing Else Did Either" explores the time when Crime was a rare occasion because folks didn't have enough money to afford anything worth stealing. In "Hemingway Never Picked Cotton or Danced in a Honkey-Tonk," Marlin compares how the famous Author might have written differently had he been exposed to some Texas traditions. Colorful and witty, I Got By provides insights into life in rural Texas during the Great Depression and shows that humor can provide relief in many challenging situations. This being the 2nd volume and Marin's final book, it is your last chance to explores a Lifetime worth of his experiences.




Eighteen Minutes


Book Description

The book follows General Sam Houston as he takes command of the Texas Volunteers to lead them to victory six weeks after the fall of the Alamo.