Dianne de Las Casas

Award-winning storyteller Dianne de Las Casas has given familiar folktales a modern twist by remixing them with rhythm, rap, and rhyme. Energetic and commanding, de Las Cases convincingly performs these tales, repeating rapping refrains and encouraging listeners to join in. Traditional tales such as the "Three Billy Goats," "The Three Little Pigs," "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," "The Tortoise and the Hare," and "The Little Red Hen" (making pizza this time!) are given an upbeat treatment that kids will love. Older preschool and early elementary grade children will hone their listening skills with this title that is a fine addition to general listening collections. - School Library Journal September 2006

“Storyteller Dianne de Las Casas and jazz musician Betsy Braud collaborate in this delightful fusion of storytelling and music. The gentle multicultural stories, including folktales from India ("The Boy Who Wanted a Drum"), Greece ("The Wolf and the Kid"), and Africa ("Anansi's Hat Shaking Dance") demonstrate the joy and comfort that music brings to people throughout the world. De Las Casas' commanding voice, unique characterizations, emotive vocalizations, and creative methods of reaching out to her audience are most engaging. Chants, songs, and realistic sound effects that can be repeated provide active participation in the stories. Braud's upbeat music and a dose of good humor also stand out in this entertaining, high-energy CD." - ALA Booklist

Dianne de Las Casas tells six traditional stories from different cultures in her enthusiastic and winning style. She brings the stories to life by giving different voices to each character. Opening and closing the album is a lively song, “World Fiesta.” “How Music Came to the World” (Aztec) tells how Queztelcoatl managed to steal music from the sun and bring it to earth. “The Boy Who Wanted a Drum” (India) tells how a young boy trades a variety of items until he finally receives the drum he has wanted. In “Cockroach Fete” (Louisiana), a lazy cockroach stays home and parties with his friends while his hen wife is out gathering food. In “The Wolf & the Kid” (Greece), a goat kid who thinks he is big enough to do things by himself confronts a wolf who wants to eat him. Anansi creates “Anansi’s Hat Shaking Dance” (Africa) to distract his wife from noticing all the beans he has eaten that were intended for a party. Four animals scare off robbers from their new home in “The Bremen Town Musicians” (Germany). Betsy Braud & the Jazz Nurse Prescription provide wonderful background music, mostly jazz in style, that greatly enhances the stories. The jazz band performs on piano, upright bass, vibraphone, drums, flute, ocarina, recorder, vibes, saxophone, and numerous rhythm instruments. Las Casas’s previous recording, Jambalaya: Stories with Louisiana Flavor (Apr. 2004, p. 80), won an iParenting Media Award. A welcome addition to multicultural storytelling collections.

- School Library Journal

“Start in the kitchen with a recipe for Jambalaya, a rice dish made ‘with a little bit of this and a little bit of that.’ Each of the stories in de Las Casas collection spices that pot. Listeners will take pleasure in recognizing familiar stories, told by the author with a Louisiana flavor. Ma Farmer’s sweet potatoes are grown with special care and to a special size. What creature will eat a cornbread boy spiced with cayenne pepper? Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit continue to trick each other in the peanut patch. Talking eggs that know the power of love and mysterious Jean Lafitte round out the collection. Dianne de Las Casas narrates with a clear and sincere voice. Refrains, songs, and sound effects embellish her storytelling. Southern style music adds its own spice." - AudioFile Magazine