Synopsis
Provides information on the pre-Lenten festival of Mardi Gras, focusing on how it is celebrated in New Orleans.
Pat Trattles - Children's Literature
One thing you can say about Americans, they love to party. From Christmas, to St. Patrick's Day, to the Fourth of July, there are reasons to party all year long. The biggest party of the year for millions of Americans is Mardi Gras. But, what exactly is Mardi Gras, and why do we celebrate it? Part of the "Celebrating Cultures" series from Weigl Publishers, this book explains it all; from the meaning of Mardi Gras, (Fat Tuesday), to the reasons it is celebrated, to the history and traditions of Mardi Gras in the United States. This book concentrates on Mardi Gras in New Orleans, the biggest celebration in the United States, but also covers other areas of the country in snippets of sidebar information. The information is presented in sparse, easily understood text, with unfamiliar words bolded, and meanings explained in the back of the book. Accompanying the text are beautiful color photos of Mardi Gras celebrations, including costumes, parades, food, and more. Also included is bibliographical information, a page of additional interesting facts, a glossary, an index, and an "imagine if" section in which readers are asked to imagine they are planning their own Mardi Gras celebration. The comprehensive coverage of Mardi Gras makes this book a welcome addition to school and library shelves everywhere. 2003, Weigl Publishers, Ages 8 to 12.
Editorials
Children's Literature
One thing you can say about Americans, they love to party. From Christmas, to St. Patrick's Day, to the Fourth of July, there are reasons to party all year long. The biggest party of the year for millions of Americans is Mardi Gras. But, what exactly is Mardi Gras, and why do we celebrate it? Part of the "Celebrating Cultures" series from Weigl Publishers, this book explains it all; from the meaning of Mardi Gras, (Fat Tuesday), to the reasons it is celebrated, to the history and traditions of Mardi Gras in the United States. This book concentrates on Mardi Gras in New Orleans, the biggest celebration in the United States, but also covers other areas of the country in snippets of sidebar information. The information is presented in sparse, easily understood text, with unfamiliar words bolded, and meanings explained in the back of the book. Accompanying the text are beautiful color photos of Mardi Gras celebrations, including costumes, parades, food, and more. Also included is bibliographical information, a page of additional interesting facts, a glossary, an index, and an "imagine if" section in which readers are asked to imagine they are planning their own Mardi Gras celebration. The comprehensive coverage of Mardi Gras makes this book a welcome addition to school and library shelves everywhere. 2003, Weigl Publishers, Ages 8 to 12.—Pat Trattles