In this rhymed fable, set deep in bayou country, the friendly furred, feathered, and scaly folk of Crawdad County ensure that when it’s time to dance, no one’s left out of the mix. Cecil, Woo, and Eloise—a gator, armadillo, and zebra (that’s a story for another time) respectively—are ready to boogie down at the Laissez Faire hall. But Eloise can’t get through the door. What to do? Without losing a step, Woo and Cecil lead band and dancers out under the stars, where the bon temps continue to roulez. Unlike the high-stepping partiers, the verse stumbles repeatedly, victimized by dropped or extra beats—but in the vivid, cut-paper collage art, variously clad swamp folk set against rich greenery and deep purple skies seem to leap from the pages in a compelling invitation to join the fais do do. (Picture book. 6-8)
