Down on the Bayou: A Story of Gators, Ghosts, and Trees with Knees

A Black child visiting family heads out on a Louisiana bayou tour with his poet grandfather in this setting-oriented picture book from Armand and Harris. Paddling in a pirogue with an old friend of Grandpa’s, the trio sees otters, herons, and more under moss-covered cypress trees. Grandpa reflects on practices learned by their ancestors from the Choctow and Houma people, while a discussion about plantations leads to his acknowledging how their forebears “endured a lot for us to be born free.” Conversational text alternates with factual asides and stanzas of a poem by Grandpa as Troy finds wonder in the setting. Digital illustrations awash in earthy browns and greens give the story a homey, inviting feeling. An author’s note and the complete poem conclude. Ages 4–8. (May)