Feliciana Feydra LeRoux: A Cajun Tall Tale

Hooo! This picture book romp in the Louisiana swamps is one exhilarating outing. Spunky Feliciana is disappointed and angry when Grampa Baby won't allow her to go alligator-hunting with ``all the men-children'' in the family. She sneaks out in the middle of the night to follow them--and comes face-to-face with ``two red eyes, froze-fix in the light. The alligator!'' Grampa Baby and the boys happen on the scene just in time to see Feliciana outwit the green beast. This gal's moxie ensures her a place in Grampa Baby's boat for next time. Louisiana-born Thomassie's dialect is a delight to read aloud, and her balance of comedy and suspense is masterful. Smith's (Chester the Out-of-Work Dog) jaunty, bumpily shaped figures bounce with exuberance. Her watercolors are satisfyingly atmospheric, capturing moss, weeds and swamp water in the background. Kudos to the first-time author for including a note on Cajun culture and a ``recipe'' for a Cajun accent that every reader will want to roll around on his or her tongue. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)