Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud

From the beloved children’s performer, a “trickster tale jazzed up with Cajun French phrases defined both in the text and in a glossary” (Kirkus Reviews).

A long time ago, when Crab and Crawfish were still best friends, Crawfish was feeling particularly lazy—and particularly hungry—as he loafed around the muggy bayou. When Crab arrived with a fish, Crawfish took one listen to his empty belly and decided to trick his good-natured friend.

After Crab realizes Crawfish has made a fool of him again, he isn’t happy, and before he knows it, Crawfish gets exactly what he deserves. A charming tale cautioning children about the consequences of cheating your friends, this colorful picture book from the critically acclaimed Johnette Downing will delight readers of all ages with its timeless and gentle lesson about integrity.

In addition to the entertaining story, lively collage-style illustrations, a glossary of Cajun words and phrases, including entries such as “cher” (dear or friend) and “beaucoup” (much), and a list of crawfish “fun facts” make this book an irresistible read.

“A humorous choice for storytimes.” —School Library Journal