20 May 2025 3 min read Kidlit

Happy Book Birthday: Down on the Bayou

Down On the Bayou, written by Glenda Armand and illustrated by Alleanna Harris, is now available wherever books are sold!

Happy book birthday to Down on the Bayou, written by Glenda Armand, illustrated by me, and published by Crown/Random House Kids! It’s officially out today.

The cover of Down on the Bayou, written by Glenda Armand and illustrated by Alleanna Harris. Troy, Grandpa, and Uncle Joe paddle down the bayou. — *Down on the Bayou*, written by Glenda Armand and illustrated by Alleanna Harris.

I'm so happy that Bayou is out in the world so that you can read Glenda’s beautiful words and poetry. I'm excited for you to meet Troy and his Grandpa. Illustrating their close relationship was a joy. It reminded me how close I was to my Pop-Pop as a child. You'll also get to meet Grandma, who reminds me of my mom's mom, and Uncle Joe, Grandpa's knowledgeable friend.

I enjoyed illustrating the bayou. I learned so much about its history, the animals that live there, and the plants that also inhabit it. I know that after reading Bayou, you'll be left with a surprising amount of knowledge of what goes on in the Louisiana bayou. I'm hoping it will inspire you to learn even more about it, just like it inspired me.

I’m sharing three spreads from Bayou because it's always fun to get a sneak peek! However, before I show you the three spreads, I'll start with one half of the endpapers to help you settle in to the vibes of this picture book. Check it out:

The front endpapers for Down on the Bayou. A nighttime bayou scene with moonlight filtering through the trees. There's a bobcat, gator, and owl. — Front endpapers from *Down on the Bayou*, written by Glenda Armand and illustrated by Alleanna Harris.

Now! Here are the sneak peeks. You might have to zoom in to read each:

A spread from Down on the Bayou. Troy, Grandpa, and Uncle Joe sail down the bayou in a pirogue. There's also a blue heron, otters, feral hogs, and a lunar moth. — A spread from *Down on the Bayou*, written by Glenda Armand and illustrated by Alleanna Harris.

A spread from Down on the Bayou. Young Grandpa and Uncle Joe look into the window of a store and see an altar. — A spread from *Down on the Bayou*, written by Glenda Armand and illustrated by Alleanna Harris.

A spread from Down on the Bayou. Troy imagines what cypress knees are. He imagines dragons bones and tiny elves. — A spread from *Down on the Bayou*, written by Glenda Armand and illustrated by Alleanna Harris.

I just wanted to give a thanks again to Glenda Armand, Sonali Fry, Véronique Sweet, Crown and Random House Kids, Alex Gehringer, and Bright Agency Publishing. You’re all the best!

Hope you enjoyed the sneak peek! Down on the Bayou is now available wherever books are sold.

Quietly paddling down the bayou,
Alleanna

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