Soggy Like Cush Cush (a Picture Book Celebration of Creole Culture for Kids)

A gloomy, rainy day is turned upside down when Gran-moman takes Petite Marie on an adventure through town. Celebrate joy, Louisiana creole culture, community, and the love of a wonderful grandparent in this gorgeous story about making every day count.

Rain falls outside an old Louisiana Creole house until the ground is as soggy as a bowl of cush cush. Petite Marie thinks she’s going to have to spend all day indoors, but Gran-moman takes Petite Marie on an unexpected journey around town. Soon, Petite Marie is having a magical day filled with friends, delicious Louisiana creole cooking, and a lot of care and kindness. With the help of Gran-moman she discovers that any day can be beautiful, no matter the weather.

Karly Pierre grew up in the heart of the Louisiana Creole/Cajun countryside surrounded by sugarcane fields. She comes from a family of farmers and educators who instilled in her a love of nature and adventure. She is a professor in South Korea where she currently resides.

Kristen Uroda is an artist best known for her vibrant, joyful illustrations. Often softly formed yet boldly colored, her work aims to express beauty in the ordinary moments, celebrate the poetry within diverse faces and figures, and tell stories that inspire reflection and social and civic change. While her career started in editorial illustration, she has most recently moved into narrative illustration. She is currently based in her hometown of Detroit, Michigan.