Mary Alice Fontenot facts for kids
Mary Alice Fontenot (born April 16, 1910 – died May 12, 2003) was a famous writer from Eunice, Louisiana. She was best known for her wonderful children's books, especially the "Clovis Crawfish" series. These books feature animals living in the Louisiana bayou.
The "Clovis Crawfish" series has eighteen books. They are written in English but include some Cajun words. The books even explain how to say these words and what they mean! Some of her books were also published completely in French.
Contents
Exploring Mary Alice Fontenot's World
The Adventures of Clovis Crawfish
Mary Alice Fontenot's first Clovis Crawfish book came out in 1961. Many more books followed in the 1960s and 1970s. The series became very popular from the 1980s until she passed away in 2003. She was 93 years old when she died. Her last book, "Clovis Crawfish and Silvie Sulphur," was published after her death in 2004.
The Clovis Crawfish books are published by Pelican Publishing. They tell exciting stories about animals in the Louisiana bayou.
Other Amazing Stories
Besides the Clovis Crawfish series, Mary Alice Fontenot wrote other children's books. One book, "Mardi Gras in the Country," explains how Mardi Gras is celebrated in smaller, country areas. This is different from the big, fancy parades in New Orleans. She also wrote "Star Seed," which tells the story of Christ's birth. Another book was "Tah-Tye, The Last Possum in the Pouch."
A Life of Writing and Teaching
Mary Alice Fontenot worked as a journalist for over thirty years. She started in the early 1940s. She wrote articles and book reviews for newspapers in Louisiana and Mississippi. For a while, she was even the women's news editor for one paper!
She also hosted a radio show on KSIG-AM in Crowley, Louisiana. And, she taught kindergarten classes, helping young children learn. In her later years, Mary Alice Fontenot focused on writing books. She wrote many new stories from her seventies into her nineties.
Awards and Recognition
Mary Alice Fontenot received several special awards for her work. These include the Acadiana Arts Council Lifetime Achievement Award. She also won the Louisiana State Library Award. In 2003, Louisiana Public Broadcasting named her a Louisiana Legend. This shows how important her stories were to her home state.
Books by Mary Alice Fontenot
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
Other 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)
