Books & Audio Recordings
Children’s Picture Books
The Little “Read” Hen
Pelican Publishing, 2013
ISBN: 9781455617029
Children’s Picture Book, Ages 3-8
This fractured spin on a beloved folk tale is perfect for aspiring young writers in learning how their own fledging ideas can hatch into a polished story. When the Little “Read” Hen’s friends won’t help her write an “egg-cellent” story, she doesn’t let it ruffle her feathers! Brainstorming, researching, outlining, drafting, editing, and proofing: all the ingredients of the “write” recipe for a well-crafted tale are included in this punny book!
“This fresh take on the traditional folktale gives youngsters sound advice on writing their own stories. Teachers will want to use this pun-filled tale in their writing lessons.” — School Library Journal
Dianne is available for fun author visits and school presentations.
Beware, Beware of the Big Bad Bear
Pelican Publishing, 2012
ISBN: 9781455616909
Children’s Picture Book, Ages 3-8
A lyrical escapade from beginning to end, this book features a cast of funny characters on a mission to procure the precious sody sallyraytus (baking soda) for Maw Maw so that she can bake butter biscuits. She warns her family to beware of the big bad bear. Unfortunately, everyone, including Maw Maw herself, fall prey to the bear under the bridge. It’s up to Squirrel, the unlikeliest of heroes, to save the day!
“The story is based on an Appalachian folktale and is another winner from the author! Your child will sure to be enchanted like Kiddo was! And it even includes the sody sallraytus (baking soda) biscuit recipe at the end of the tale!” — Bless Their Hearts Mom Blog
Dianne is available for fun author visits and school presentations.
Dinosaur Mardi Gras
Pelican Publishing, 2012
ISBN: 9781589809666
Children’s Picture Book, Ages 3-8
It’s Carnival time in New Orleans! So get ready to stomp, chomp and boogie to that mambo beat. As the parade rolls down the route, Brachiosaurus tosses his beads, while Triceratops sings his blues and Spinosaurus taps in his blue suede shoes. The big beasts boom and bop to the shouts of “Throw me something, mister!” from the crowd below. Rex, King of Carnivores, takes center stage, roaring through the crowds. This festive book, full of flamboyant illustrations, includes a glossary and instructions for creating a Mardi Gras float. Laissez les bon temps rugir! Let the good times ROAR!
“It’s a roaring reading party! Pass out the sparkly beads, put on the catchy Mardi Gras tunes, and let the kids CHOMP! CHOMP! and STOMP! STOMP! to the infectious beat of Dinosaur Mardi Gras!” — John Schumacher, school librarian, founder of MrSchuReads.com, and 2011 Library Journal Mover & Shaker
Dianne is available for fun author visits and school presentations.
The House That Witchy Built
Pelican Publishing, 2011
ISBN: 9781589809659
Children’s Picture Book, Ages 3-8
Bats flap, cats meow, skeletons rattle, and ghosts shout, “boo!” in Witchy’s creaky house. The fun, cumulative tale, inspired by the Mother Goose rhyme “The House that Jack Built,” is full of rollicking rhythm and spooky characters kids will love. Illustrated in vibrant cut-paper and collage, this year is a perfect story time read aloud destined to become a Halloween classic!
“Witchy definitely rocks this house!” — Kirkus Reviews
Dianne is available for fun author visits and school presentations.
Blue Frog The Legend of Chocolate
Pelican Publishing, 2011
ISBN: 9781455614592
Children’s Picture Book, Ages 3-8
A long, long time ago, the Sun God spent his days enjoying a very special secret treat: rich, dark cacao. Unlike the Wind God, the Sun God did not want to share this heavenly food with the creatures of the Earth. One day, the Wind God transformed himself into the Rana Azul, or Blue Frog, and he taught the children of the Earth where to find the secret cacao beans through song. A recipe for hot chocolate and a sprinkling of Spanish words and phrases enhance this intricately illustrated foodie fable.
“What can be better than chocolate? A story about chocolate! Exquisite collage illustrations add whipped cream and a cherry on top. A mouthwatering book that could only be better if you could eat it.” — Eric A. Kimmel, Caledcott Honor Author of Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins
Dianne is available for fun author visits and school presentations.
There’s a Dragon in the Library
** An Accelerated Reader Book! **
Pelican Publishing, 2011
ISBN: 9781589808447 Children’s Picture Book, Ages 3-8
Max loves story time at the library. But he has no idea how exciting the library can be until the day he spies a large, speckled egg sitting on one of the bookshelves. With a loud crack, the egg breaks to reveal a small, seemingly harmless dragon. However, this dragon has a real appetite for books and doesn’t stay small for very long! Max is the only one who can see the dragon munching and crunching on the library’s books. Will anyone believe Max? Fresh, bright illustrations and “Max’s Book Care Tips” complete this enchanting adventure.
“A fantastic tale full of fun and spirit that will soon join the ranks of Harold and the Purple Crayon – a book truly worthy of classic status for generations to come.” — Feathered Quill Book Reviews
Dianne is available for fun author visits and school presentations.
The Gigantic Sweet Potato
Pelican Publishing, 2010
ISBN: 9781589807556
Children’s Picture Book, Ages 3-9
“As soon as she feels a hankering for sweet-potato pie, Ma Farmer knows what to add to her excellent vegetable garden. Colorful watercolors accompany the rhythmic text and add a touch of foreshadowing; the indomitable mouse that eventually solves the problem close at hand appears early to watch the goings-on. Based on the Russian folktale ‘The Giant Turnip,’ this lighthearted story stars Ma rather than Pa as the gardener and traces the growth of the sweet potato from farmer’s market to kitchen jar, then through planting, watering and growth. When it’s time to harvest, the fun begins, as Ma Farmer enlists Pa and a variety of farmyard animals to help when the potato remains resolutely rooted underground. Children will happily join in with the repetitive, cumulative text and enjoy the satisfying end, which naturally features sweet-potato pie (and a recipe for it). A nice tie-in to school or home-based gardening projects, this tasty selection is a solid interpretation of the classic tale, with appealing pictures and a strong female character.” — Kirkus Reviews
Dianne is available for fun author visits and school presentations.
Mama’s Bayou
Pelican Publishing, 2010
ISBN: 9781589807877
Children’s Picture Book, Ages 3-8
Crickets chirp, snakes hiss, and skeeters buzz as all the animals of the bayou get ready for bedtime. In Dianne de Las Casas’ gentle tale, Mama rocks her baby to this soft symphony of sounds, a sweet lull of rhythmic animal noises. Illustrated in beautifully detailed and textured cut paper and collage by Holly Stone-Barker, this simple stroll through the swampy wilderness introduces children to the bayou’s animal sounds as they fall into peaceful slumber in the warm and loving embrace of Mama. A perfect bedtime “lullabayou” story!
Dianne is available for fun author visits and school presentations.
Madame Poulet & Monsieur Roach
Pelican Publishing, 2009
ISBN: 9781589806863
Children’s Picture Book, Ages 3-8
“Hooray! Here is an authentic Louisiana folktale wonderfully adapted for telling aloud by one of Louisiana’s favorite storytellers. Kids will enjoy singing along as the rascally roaches party while the hard-working hen is away. And, anyone who has found roaches scurrying around in their house at night will rejoice when the pesky critters get their comeuppance.” — Gale Criswell, Former Children’s Services Consultant, State Library of Louisiana
Dianne is available for fun author visits and school presentations.
The Cajun Cornbread Boy
** Bestseller! **
Pelican Publishing, 2009
ISBN: 9781589802247
Children’s Picture Book, Ages 3-8
“Dianne de Las Casas mixes humor, high spirits, lively narration and a colorful setting to bring alive the timeless tale of The Gingerbread Boy. When a lonely old woman decides to cook up a cornbread boy in her magic skillet, her too-generous use of cayenne pepper in the batter brings about unexpected results and sets the stage for this droll, Cajun-spiced retelling. The author mixes her storyteller’s ear for concise, vivid description; rhythmic language; and exciting pacing, with tasty dollops of humor, as she recounts the cornbread boy’s meetings with various woodland creatures who want to gobble him up. This delectable, delightful retelling is accompanied by lively, appealing watercolor illustrations by Marita Gentry that capture the zest of the tale and the distinctive bayou setting.” – Robert D. San Souci, author of The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South and Little Pierre: A Cajun Story from Louisiana
Dianne is available for fun author visits and school presentations.
Professional Books for Librarians and Teachers
Handmade Tales 2: More Stories to Make and Take
Libraries Unlimited, 2013
ISBN 9781598849738
An expansion of the original, best-selling Handmade Tales book, Dianne de Las Casas provides 25 more clever handmade tales appropriate for PK through third grade. Stories like string stories, draw and tell, paper tales, and tales that use other simple props are ideal for elementary school teachers and librarians, and children’s public librarians.
Dianne is available for dynamic professional development seminars & keynotes for conferences.
Tell Along Tales: Playing with Participation Stories
Libraries Unlimited, 2011
ISBN 9781598849295
“Teachers, public librarians, school librarians, and storytellers will find this book valuable for engaging elementary students. Tips for making storytelling an active learning experience will help even the novice librarian captivate students.” - Library Media Connection
Dianne is available for dynamic professional development seminars & keynotes for conferences.
A is for Alligator: Draw and Tell Tales from A-Z
Libraries Unlimited, 2011
ISBN 9781598849295
Dianne de Las Casas and Marita Gentry team to create a unique ABC book of draw and tell stories that use each letter of the alphabet to create animals kids will love!
Dianne is available for dynamic professional development seminars & keynotes for conferences.
Tales from the 7,000 Isles: Filipino Folk Stories
Libraries Unlimited, 2011
ISBN 9781598846980
Dianne de Las Casas celebrates her Filipino heritage in Tales from the 7,000 Isles. Co-written with Zarah Gagatiga, a Filipina librarian, storyteller, and author, the book, containing Filipino folktales, recipes, crafts, and children’s games, is part of Libraries Unlimited’s World Folklore Series. Dianne and Zarah traveled all over the Philippines collecting stories and taking photographs for the book. Additional photographs contributed by Yumi Pitargue.
Dianne is available for dynamic professional development seminars & keynotes for conferences.
Stories on Board! Creating Board Games from Favorite Tales
Libraries Unlimited, 2010
ISBN 9781591588627
Students learn to create fun board games using adapted tales from around the world, integrating language arts, math, and social studies. Add this innovative professional resource book to your shelf!
Dianne is available for dynamic professional development seminars & keynotes for conferences.
Scared Silly: 25 Tales to Tickle & Thrill
** Winner of Storytelling World Award **
Libraries Unlimited, 2009
ISBN 9781591587323
Professional Book for Educators, Librarians & Storytellers.
A primer on how to tell spooky stories, the 25 tellable tales in Scared Silly are the perfect addition for teachers’ and librarians’ scary story selections. Storytelling techniques cover how to choose age-appropriate tales and how to effectively master audience participation. Each story is measured by a “spook-o-meter,” an icon that “rates” how scary the story is and what audiences the story is intended for. The tales are also annotated with suggestions on how to tell them. Grab a flashlight and let’s get scared silly!
Dianne is available for dynamic professional development seminars & keynotes for conferences.
Tangram Tales: Story Theater Using the Ancient Chinese Puzzle
Teacher Ideas Press, 2009
ISBN: 9781591586524
Professional Book for Educators, Librarians & Story Practitioners; Grades 2-6
Targeted for elementary teachers, drama teachers, librarians & teaching artists, Tangram Tales contains adapted tales from around the world appropriate for grades 2 through 6. Teachers can tell the stories in the classroom as part of a math unit, or they can have the students use the scripts provided to perform the stories using tangrams. In Dianne de Las Casas’ tangram story theater process, students are given roles as storytellers, tangram artists and chorus members to create grade-level story presentations. Other tangram methods, such as individual tangram tales, are shared as well. The ways in which tangram tales connect language arts and math is demonstrated. The book includes simple black-and-white spot illustrations for each story, showing the tangram figures that depict the story. A durable rubber tangram puzzle is included with the book.
Dianne is available for dynamic professional development seminars & keynotes for conferences.
The Story Biz Handbook: How to Manage Your Storytelling Career from the Desk to the Stage
** Winner of Storytelling World Award **
Libraries Unlimited; 2008
ISBN: 9781591587309
Professional Book for Storytellers, Authors & Children’s Performing Artists
This dynamite book merges the yin and yang of storytelling and business. Beginning with wonderful tips and advice about the art and presentation of storytelling, it is a complete resource about how to build a storytelling career. Storytellers come to their careers centered on the stories they love and soon realize that in order to make a living at what they love, they must build a business. This in-depth book tells them just how and what to do in every detail from choosing a sound system to building a website to using podcasts and setting up an office. There is even a chapter on how to plan for retirement. Each chapter is a story in itself, beginning and ending with different traditional folktale openings and closings. Resource lists and tried and true ideas abound as the author shares her marketing and business success story throughout.
With 30 chapters and nearly 400 pages, The Story Biz Handbook is a useful tome jam-packed with ideas, information and resources you can apply to your storytelling career this very moment. This book is the must-have book for every professional storyteller as well as artists and authors making their living presenting for children!
Dianne is available for dynamic professional development seminars & keynotes for conferences.
Handmade Tales: Stories to Make and Take
** Bestseller! **
Libraries Unlimited, 2008
ISBN 9781591585367
Professional Book for Educators, Librarians & Story Practitioners; Grades PK-5
Handmade Tales offers more than 25 original tales and stories from around the world that use hands as an active way to tell the stories. This book includes:
- String Stories
- Draw and Tell Stories
- Cut and Tell Stories
- Paper Tales (fold and tell, roll books, paper fortune teller tales)
- Hand Stories
- Finger Plays and other “handy” tales
Educators and librarians will love these fun “make and take” tales, with easy projects they can do, take, and implement in their work with children. Easy reproducible, step-by-step instructions accompany simple illustrations. Dianne de Las Casas has shared these innovative tales in professional development workshops with teachers and librarians worldwide.
Dianne is available for dynamic professional development seminars & keynotes for conferences.
Kamishibai Story Theater: The Art of Picture Telling
Teacher Ideas Press, 2006
ISBN: 1591584043
Professional Book for Educators, Librarians & Story Practitioners; Grades 2-6
Dianne de Las Casas adapts 25 folktales from across Asia for whole classroom use, borrowing a Japanese method of storytelling through pictures. Kamishibai theater harkens back to itinerant storyteller (Kamishibai Men) who conveyed their tales by means of illustrated cards slid into slot in wooden stages built on the back of their bicycles. This book includes an introductory chapter describing in detail the methods to use in coaching students in the art of Kamishibai Story Theater. It offers tips on rehearsing, and detailed discussion and background of the Kamishibai processes, and it describes to coordinate grade-level story presentations. Reproducible tales can be distributed to each member of the class to aide in creating illustrations. Spot illustrations for each tales give students an idea of the flavor of the drawings for their stories. The tales in Kamishibai Story Theater will delight children in grades 2-6, enticing them to participate in their own story fest.
Dianne is available for dynamic professional development seminars & keynotes for conferences.
Story Fest: Crafting Story Theater Scripts
Teacher Ideas Press; 2005
ISBN: 159469009X
Professional Book for Educators, Librarians & Story Practitioners; Grades 2-6
An invaluable guide for teachers in developing a storytelling classroom, this book contains 25 tales from around the world adapted into story theater scripts along with in-depth discussions of specific lessons and ideas for building the trust necessary in a storytelling classroom. Designed to accommodate whole classroom participation for grades 2 through 6, the scripts concentrate on verbal and physical expressions while keeping the necessity for props and costumes at a minimum. Dynamic and fun drama warm-up activities ready the students for their story theater experience. The process culminates with the students creating a school “Story Fest.” Dianne de Las Casas’ signature story theater method is designed so that minimal time is invested in the process and everyone has a part!
Dianne is available for dynamic professional development seminars & keynotes for conferences.
Children’s Audio Recordings
Jump, Jiggle & Jam: A Rhythmic Romp Through Story Land
** Winner of 2006 National Parenting Publication Award (NAPPA) Honors **
“Listeners looking for a revved-up storytelling session will find one here, as de Las Casas infuses a selection of favorite folktales with ‘rhythm, rhyme and rap.’ …audiences will surely be enthused by these entertaining retellings, which exploit de Las Casas’ pleasant style and incorporate many crowd-pleasing elements.” — Publisher’s Weekly
“Award-winning storyteller Dianne de Las Casas has given familiar folktales a modern twist by remixing them with rhythm, rap, and rhyme. Energetic and commanding, de Las Casas convincingly performs these tales, repeating rapping refrains and encouraging listeners to join in.” — School Library Journal
Dianne is available for fun author visits and school presentations.
World Fiesta Celebrations in Story & Song
** Winner of 2005 Children’s Music Web Award **
“Storyteller Dianne de Las Casas and jazz musician Betsy Braud collaborate in this delightful fusion of storytelling and music. De Las Casas’ commanding voice, unique characterizations, emotive vocalizations, and creative methods of reaching out to her audience are most engaging. Braud’s upbeat music and a dose of good humor also stand out in this entertaining, high-energy CD.”
— ALA Booklist
“Dianne de Las Casas tells six traditional stories from different cultures in her enthusiastic and winning style. Betsy Braud & the Jazz Nurse Prescription provide wonderful background music, mostly jazz in style, that greatly enhances the stories. A welcome addition to multicultural storytelling collections.”
— School Library Journal
Dianne is available for fun author visits and school presentations.
Jambalaya – Stories with Louisiana Flavor
** Winner of iParenting Media Award, Children’s Music Web Award, & Storytelling World Honor **
“Dianne de Las Casas narrates with a clear and sincere voice. Refrains, songs, and sound effects embellish her storytelling. Southern style music adds its own spice.”
— AudioFile Magazine
“Dianne de Las Casas has cooked up a delightful dish of folktales. This is a welcome addition to units of Louisiana study as it truly captures the flavor of the area.”
- School Library Journal
Dianne is available for fun author visits and school presentations.
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