New Orleans Pelicans and Audubon Nature Institute Debut Children’s Book Petit Pierre and the Floating Marsh at Louisiana Book Festival

The New Orleans Pelicans and Audubon Nature Institute have teamed up with multi-award-winning children’s book author Johnette Downing and illustrator Heather Stanley to encourage reading and connect children with the beauty and importance of Louisiana’s wetlands through their new book, Petit Pierre and the Floating Marsh.

The picture book represented the State of Louisiana at the National Book Festival last month in Washington, D.C., and the official book launch will take place at the Louisiana Book Festival on October 29, 2016 at the State Library in Baton Rouge with First Lady Donna Edwards reading from the book to the children on festival day.

There are more than 220 authors, panelists, and other participants and more than 150 programs scheduled for this year. The event is free and open to the public, and it is the largest book festival in the state of Louisiana.

Published by Pelican Publishing, proceeds from Petit Pierre and the Floating Marsh support wetland education initiatives. A “Friend a Pelican” pledge is included in the book to empower children to be good stewards of the environment. The book is currently available for purchase at all Audubon gift shops, Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

Petit Pierre and the Floating Marsh is a heartwarming story about a pelican and his wetland friends. When it’s time for Petit Pierre to leave the pelican nest and find a home of his own, he is in a quandary as to where to live. With the help of wetland animals and plants, Petit Pierre discovers that the diversity of the wetlands provides the perfect environment to make a home.

With a primary focus on education, the New Orleans Pelicans work with Audubon to teach children about coastal restoration in a fun and engaging manner.

Louisiana is facing a land loss crisis and risks losing 1,750 square miles of land, equivalent to more than 10 million basketball courts. Both the Pelicans and Audubon Nature Institute recognize that coastal Louisiana is in jeopardy and believe that this cause is of the utmost importance for the economic future of the state and region.

New Orleans Saints/Pelicans Owner Tom Benson:

“We are proud to be teaming up with Audubon Nature Institute on Petit Pierre and the Floating Marsh in an effort to connect children to the importance of coastal restoration.” In addition to utilizing the book locally, we hope that the reach extends beyond the Gulf South as the health of our region has a larger impact, as well. Petit Pierre and the Floating Marsh, with its amusing illustrations and story, gives us the chance to educate children in an engaging, fun way about the importance of saving the coast. As we look ahead to the future of our city and region, it is imperative that our younger generations understand the importance of a healthy coastline.”

Ron Forman, Audubon Nature Institute President and CEO:

“This may be the first time an NBA team has teamed up with a non-profit, author and illustrator to teach children about coastal restoration. This unique collaboration will help preserve the environment and encourage learning, which is at the heart of what we do at Audubon.”

New Orleans Pelicans player Anthony Davis:

“The first time I saw Petit Pierre and the Floating Marsh, I loved the fun illustrations, but also understood the overall message of the importance of a healthy coastline for our region. I hope young students will enjoy hearing about the different homes of the Gulf’s favorite animals and take note that all of them live in the wetlands. As they learn more about the coastline and the animals that live there, they will hopefully be eager to learn more and be compelled to care for the animals.”