Mardi Gras!

School Library Journal

Gr 3-8-Three heartfelt cheers for this simple but comprehensive look at Mardi Gras. Coil and Osborne have produced a stylish, stunning overview of the New Orleans madness that occurs before Lent each year. Divided into chapters, the book uses short paragraphs to explain the traditions, history, and current operation of Carnival. The clear and lively style draws readers in and makes them feel a part of the excitement. Osborne's breathtaking, full-color photos underline the text's presentation of Mardi Gras as a magic time of fun and laughter for all. Long overdue and very welcome.-Judy Constantinides, East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA

Janice Del Negro

Coil explores an unusual topic for juvenile nonfiction in this book about the history and development of New Orleans' Mardi Gras celebration. Accompanying photographs by Mitchel Osborne are the real attraction, their bright colors and parade-and-costume subject matter particularly appealing. Coil's brief overview touches on the multi-ethnic character of some of the floats, obliquely referring to the racial tensions of the past, but the book's real focus is on community celebration and on local efforts to make each year's series of parades, costumes, and masquerades more elaborate than the last.