T-Rex Goes to Rex

T-Rex Goes to Rex

Ryan Murphy's new children's book sets a goofy dino at the center of Carnival

By Alexandra Kennon

Ryan Murphy, New Orleans children’s book author of "What the Sleepy Animals Do At the Audubon Zoo," has released a new book aimed at introducing kids to the many vibrant and varied cultural traditions that go into Carnival season, illustrated in delightful Where’s Waldo-esque detail by Danny Marin. We asked Murphy to tell us what inspired the book, what it was like presenting Mardi Gras traditions to kids, and why a goofy T-Rex made a great ambassador for it. We also asked if we could share a few panels from the book with our readers, because they make us smile.

Courtesy of Ryan Murphy

Courtesy of Ryan Murphy

“There were a lot of fun decisions to make in deciding what traditions to present to kids. In the end, we decided to focus on making the text about the biggest parts of Mardi Gras—parades, bands, flambeaux, and so on. But Carnival season is so much more than that, and the illustrations fill in those gaps. There are dozens of smaller krewes, common sights, and moments of humanity tucked into the images that anyone who has been around Mardi Gras will recognize. Those are there for the adults that really know the traditions, and hopefully, they'll discover something familiar that brings them a little joy every time they read this book to the kids in their life.

Courtesy of Ryan Murphy

A T-Rex is the ultimate tourist, so he's a great vehicle for exploring Mardi Gras. He isn't just from out-of-town; he's from another species, another eon. He has a completely different perspective on everything, and his experience in all of these traditions covers the book with a layer of silliness.”

T-Rex Goes to Rex: A Dinosaur at Mardi Gras is available from local retailers including Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs (cavalierhousebooks.com) and Octavia Books in New Orleans (octaviabooks.com.

Courtesy of Ryan Murphy