Obituary Note: Dianne Casas

Author and storyteller Dianne Casas, who wrote and performed as Dianne de Las Casas, died August 21, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported. She was 47. An award-winning author, Casas published more than two dozen books; founded Picture Book Month, and "brought her skills as a raconteur to libraries and conferences across the country and beyond."

Her books include Beware, Beware of the Big Bad Bear!; The Cajun Cornbread Boy; A Is for Alligator: Draw and Tell Tales from A–Z; There's a Dragon in the Library; The Gigantic Sweet Potato (all illustrated by Marita Gentry); Mama's Bayou and The Little "Read" Hen (illustrated by Holly Stone-Barker).

In a tribute on Facebook, Tubby & Coo's Mid-City Book Shop wrote: "Today, we lost a truly wonderful woman, local children's book author author & storyteller Dianne de Las Casas, and I truly have no words. I am so deeply saddened by this terrible tragedy. Dianne lit up so many lives and was such an important part of our community. She was not only a wonderful business person from whom I learned so much and who was always willing to share tips and workshops with the community, but she was also a dear friend. We will miss her terribly, and we are finding comfort in the fact that she will live on through her work. May she rest in peace."

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