On side one, the skunk Batiste Bête Puante doesn’t mean to offend his friends, but the awful smell he gives off is actually one of his defenses. At first, the little wetland creatures make fun of him. But Clovis comes to the defense of the misunderstood skunk when Batiste saves René Rain Frog from the treacherous threat of Sosthene Snake! In this tale of a smelly tail, children learn about the heritage of the Cajuns and the importance of respecting the unusual abilities of others.
On side two, it is late summer on the bayou, and the friends are sad because soon summer will be gone. Christophe Cricket chirps sadly, “Je suis triste, je suis bien triste, parce que l'été est passé,” which means “I am sad, I am so sad, because the summer is over.” The bayou friends are even sadder because it is time for Bertile Butterfly to leave. She must fly south for the winter with the other monarch butterflies, and cannot stay in the bayou much longer. To wish Bertile bon voyage, Clovis throws a going-away party, complete with music and entertainment. All of the friends will be there—they all want to say good-bye to their friend Bertile.
About the Author/Narrator
Mary Alice Fontenot is best known as the children’s author of books on Cajun culture. She created the famous wetland characters of Clovis Crawfish and his friends more than thirty years ago. In addition to the Clovis Crawfish Series, Fontenot wrote several other children’s books, including Mardi Gras in the Country and The Star Seed, both published by Pelican. Fontenot worked as a kindergarten teacher and, for thirty-five years, as a newspaperwoman. Her dedication to children and to her art earned her the 1998 Acadiana Arts Council Lifetime Achievement Award. She died in 2003 at the age of ninety-three.
CLOVIS CRAWFISH AND BATISTE BETE PUANTE /
CLOVIS CRAWFISH AND BERTILE'S BON VOYAGE AUDIOCASSETTE
Par Mary Alice Fontenot
Narrated by Mary Alice Fontenot
JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / General
Total running time: 30 minutes
ISBN: 9780882899817