Mary Alice Fontenot
Encyclopedia
Mary Alice Fontenot born in Eunice, Louisiana
, was a noted author of regional children's books, best known for the Clovis Crawfish series published by Pelican Publishing, a collection of eighteen books featuring animals from the Louisiana
bayou
. The books are written in English and sprinkled with Cajun
words, with an explanation of their prononucation and meaning (several titles are also published in complete French
versions).
Fontenot's first Clovis Crawfish book was published in 1961, with several more following in the 1960s and 1970s; the series shifted into high gear with multiple volumes published from the 1980s up until the time of her death in 2003 at age 93. She authored several children's books outside the Clovis Crawfish series, including "Mardi Gras in the Country" which tells the story of how Mardi Gras
is celebrated in rural Acadian eras as opposed to the large, glamorous New Orleans carnivals, and "Star Seed," a telling of Christ
's birth. Fontenot was also the author of several regional histories and biographies and the co-author of a cookbook, "Cajun Accent." Her final book, "Clovis Crawfish and Silvie Sulphur," was published posthumously in 2004.
Fontenot worked over three decades as a journalist beginning in the early 1940s, writing features and book reviews for several Louisiana and Mississippi newspapers, including a period as women's news editor for one paper. She also hosted a radio show on KSIG-AM in Crowley, Louisiana
and taught kindergarten classes. In her senior years, Fontenot concentrated on her career as a book author and was quite prolific penning new volumes from her seventies into her nineties.
Fontenot's awards include the Acadiana Arts Council Lifetime Achievement Award, the Louisiana State Library Award, and in 2003, she was named a Louisiana Legend by Louisiana Public Broadcasting
.
French editions
Additional Children's Books
Various Books on Louisiana History
Eunice, Louisiana
Eunice is a city in Acadia, Evangeline and St. Landry parishes in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 11,499 at the 2000 census.The St...
, was a noted author of regional children's books, best known for the Clovis Crawfish series published by Pelican Publishing, a collection of eighteen books featuring animals from the Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
bayou
Bayou
A bayou is an American term for a body of water typically found in flat, low-lying areas, and can refer either to an extremely slow-moving stream or river , or to a marshy lake or wetland. The name "bayou" can also refer to creeks that see level changes due to tides and hold brackish water which...
. The books are written in English and sprinkled with Cajun
Cajun
Cajuns are an ethnic group mainly living in the U.S. state of Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles...
words, with an explanation of their prononucation and meaning (several titles are also published in complete French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
versions).
Fontenot's first Clovis Crawfish book was published in 1961, with several more following in the 1960s and 1970s; the series shifted into high gear with multiple volumes published from the 1980s up until the time of her death in 2003 at age 93. She authored several children's books outside the Clovis Crawfish series, including "Mardi Gras in the Country" which tells the story of how Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
The terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...
is celebrated in rural Acadian eras as opposed to the large, glamorous New Orleans carnivals, and "Star Seed," a telling of Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
's birth. Fontenot was also the author of several regional histories and biographies and the co-author of a cookbook, "Cajun Accent." Her final book, "Clovis Crawfish and Silvie Sulphur," was published posthumously in 2004.
Fontenot worked over three decades as a journalist beginning in the early 1940s, writing features and book reviews for several Louisiana and Mississippi newspapers, including a period as women's news editor for one paper. She also hosted a radio show on KSIG-AM in Crowley, Louisiana
Crowley, Louisiana
Crowley is a city in and the parish seat of Acadia Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 14,225 at the 2000 census. The city is noted for its annual International Rice Festival. Crowley has the nickname of "Rice Capital of America", because at one time it was a major center for...
and taught kindergarten classes. In her senior years, Fontenot concentrated on her career as a book author and was quite prolific penning new volumes from her seventies into her nineties.
Fontenot's awards include the Acadiana Arts Council Lifetime Achievement Award, the Louisiana State Library Award, and in 2003, she was named a Louisiana Legend by Louisiana Public Broadcasting
Louisiana Public Broadcasting
Louisiana Public Broadcasting is a state-run, viewer-supported state network of Public Broadcasting Service non-commercial educational Public television member stations serving the state of Louisiana outside Greater New Orleans. The stations are operated by the Louisiana Educational Television...
.
Books
Clovis Crawfish Series- Clovis Crawfish and His Friends (1962)
- Clovis Crawfish And The Big Betail (1963)
- Clovis Crawfish and the Singing Cigales (1965)
- Clovis Crawfish and Petit Papillon (1966)
- Clovis Crawfish and the Spinning Spider (1968)
- Clovis Crawfish And The Curious Crapaud (1970)
- Clovis Crawfish and Michelle Mantis (1976)
- Clovis Crawfish and the Orphan Zo-Zo (1983)
- Clovis Crawfish And Simeon Suce-Fleur (1990)
- Clovis Crawfish And Bertiles Bon Voyage (1991)
- Clovis Crawfish and Etienne Escargot (1992)
- Clovis Crawfish And Batiste Bete Puante (1993)
- Clovis Crawfish and Bidon Box Turtle (1996)
- Clovis Crawfish and Paillasse Poule D'Eau (1997)
- Clovis Crawfish and Fedora Field Mouse (1998)
- Clovis Crawfish and Raoul Raccoon (2001)
- Clovis Crawfish and Echo Gecko (2003)
- Clovis Crawfish and Silvie Sulphur (2004)
- Clovis Crawfish and the Twin Sister (2007)
French editions
- Clovis Ecrevisse Et Ses Amis With Clovis Ecrevisse Et Simeon Sucefleur
- Clovis Ecrevisse Et Les Cigales Qui Chantent With Clovis Ecrevisse Et Petit Papillon
- Clovis Ecrevisse Et Laraignee Qui File
- Clovis Ecrevisse Et Charlotte Cheval De Diable With Clovis Ecrevisse Et Etienne Escargot
- Clovis Ecrevisse Et La Grosse Betail With Clovisecrevisse Et Loiseau Orphelin
- Clovis Ecrevisse Et Batiste Bete Puante With Clovis Ecrevisse Et Le Bon Voyage A Pauline
- Clovis Crawfish And Paillasse Poule Deau
- Clovis Crawfish Et Ses AmisClovis Crawfish And Friends
- Clovis Ecrevisse Et Loiseau Orphelin-French
- Clovis Ecrevisse Et Laraignee Qui File
- Clovis Ecrevisse Et Paillasse Poule Deau
Additional Children's Books
- Star Seed: A Story of the First Christmas (1986)
- Mardi Gras in the Country (1994)
- Tah-Tye, The Last Possum in the Pouch (1996)
Various Books on Louisiana History
- The Ghost of Bayou Tigre (1965)
- The Cat and St. Landry: A Biography of Sheriff D.J. "Cat" DoucetCat DoucetDaly Joseph Doucet, Sr., known as Cat Doucet , was a Democratic politician and a law enforcement officer from St. Landry Parish in south Louisiana. He served as sheriff of St. Landry Parish for a total of twenty years.-Background:Doucet was born in Grand Prairie in St. Landry Parish to Lucius...
of St. Landry Parish, La. (1936–1940 ; 1952–1968) (1972) - Acadian Parish, Louisiana (1976, 1997)
- Acadian Parish: A History to 1920 (1979, 1997)
- The Louisiana Experience (1983)
- The Tensas Story (1987)
- The Gentle Shepard: A Memoir of Bishop Jules B. Jeanmard (1998)
- Cajun Accent, A Cookbook