David Eugene Ray will be selling and signing copies of his award-winning book, The Little Mouse Santi, at the New Orleans Baby & Child Fest on October 1st from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Pontchartrain Center. Look for him at the Confetti Park exhibitor booth. We will also be selling copies of our Parents’ Choice Award-winning CD, We’re Going to Confetti Park!, and taking pre-order for our newest children’s book, Candy Land Ball.
The Little Mouse Santi is a Moonbeam Award winner, a recipient of the prestigious gold Mom’s Choice Award, the coveted Kirkus star and was named one of the Best Books of 2015 by Kirkus Reviews! It was illustrated by Santiago Germano.
Get an autographed copy for a discounted price at the New Orleans Baby & Child Fest, a fantastic annual event offering great deals and family fun for moms and dads, expectant parents, grandparents and children from babies to middle school.
Learn, Shop & Play with 100 vendors from birthing to boutiques to party places. Take a break with your kids in the kids zone with inflatables, face painting, art & lego workshops, photo booth, a toddler play area and more. Learn more at http://www.neworleansbabyfest.com/
Enjoy free shipping & 20% off children’s books and CDs from the Confetti Park workshop, created right here in New Orleans. Use code ‘nolakids’ when you order directly through Confetti Park at confettipark.com/shop.
New Orleans kids’ choir director launches Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for a children’s book and song called “Candy Land Ball”
What:Candy Land Ball, a children’s book (36 pages) about a magical night at the ball, written in rhyming verse and beautifully illustrated by watercolor artist Emanuela Serafina. It comes with piano sheet music and a download code for the song performed by Katy Hobgood Ray & the Confetti Park Players. The book is being pre-sold book on crowdfunding platform Indiegogo to cover production and printing costs. The author’s goal is to raise $3000 in pre-sales.
When: The crowdfunding campaign runs from September 25-November 24, 2016. Autographed books and CDs and other perks will be shipped to supporters in the first week of December 2016.
Where: Four special packages are available for sale at https://igg.me/at/candylandball/x/11554329. Packages range from $15-$100, and include perks such as autographed books, CDs, musical toys, and gourmet candy gift baskets.
Why: The Candy Land Ball story book is the follow-up to the recorded song from the Parents’ Choice® Award-winning children’s music album, We’re Going to Confetti Park!featuring Katy Hobgood Ray & the Confetti Park Players. The story was inspired by an annual event that raises funds for parks and children’s programming in Algiers Point for 501(c)3 Confetti Kids, Inc. A portion of proceeds from the campaign will go to Confetti Kids, Inc., an organization for which Katy has volunteered for four years. This is the second children’s book from Confetti Park. The first, The Little Mouse Santi, was named a Best Book of 2015 by Kirkus Reviews and won a Moonbeam Award and Gold Mom’s Choice Award.
Learn more at confettipark.com. Media members, please email for inquiries or call 504-650-1238.
The newest book from Confetti Park is called Candy Land Ball! Inspired by real events and a song, this children’s book has been beautifully illustrated and is ready for print. We are taking pre-orders now through Indiegogo, and it will be shipped in time for the holidays!
The song “Candy Land Ball,” which is on our first CD, was inspired by an annual event in my neighborhood. The Candy Land Ball is a magical children’s ball that raises funds for parks and children’s programming in Algiers Point for 501(c)3 Confetti Kids, Inc. I have volunteered for this organization for four years, and today, I am the president! A portion of proceeds from the campaign will go to Confetti Kids, Inc.
The song, with scenes of rock candy mountains and lollipop trees, was just begging to be illustrated. This will be the second children’s book I have published from my little workshop in New Orleans. The first, written by David Eugene Ray, is called The Little Mouse Santi. It won several awards and was named by Kirkus Reviews as one of the Best Indie Books of 2015! What an honor.
What We Need & What You Get
The Candy Land Ball has been beautifully illustrated by watercolor artist Emanuela Serafina, and it is ready to print! In order to cover production costs and print 500 copies, I need to raise $3000 in pre-sales. I have created several packages for my Indiegogo supporters. Among the perks:
An autographed book, the Candy Land Ball, with piano sheet music and a download code for the song. Autographed by me, Katy Hobgood Ray.
The CD We’re Going to Confetti Park!, with 21 tracks of magical songs and jumprope jingles featuring a kids chorus and a star-studded lineup of New Orleans musicians. This CD won a Parents’ Choice® Award and includes the song “Candy Land Ball.”
An autographed copy of The Little Mouse Santi, our first children’s book, which won a Moonbeam Award, a Mom’s Choice Award, and was named by Kirkus Reviews as A Best Indie Book of 2015. Autographed by author David Eugene Ray. (Listen for the track “Dream Big, Little Santi” on the CD!)
For top level supporters, a splendid gourmet candy gift basket—the stuff of the sweetest dreams at the Candy Land Ball!
10% of every transaction on Indiegogo will be donated to the nonprofit 501(c)3 Confetti Kids, Inc. I have been a passionate volunteer for this grassroots volunteer organization ever since my son was born.
Thank you for your support!
I am so grateful to you for supporting the Candy Land Ball storybook! I hope you love your perks, the music and the stories. Please help me get the word out about this campaign if you know someone who would enjoy them, too.
Connect with me on Facebook. I’ll keep you updated on my progress!
“It’s a pleasure to introduce a character that is sure to become your new favorite mouse, Santi!…David Eugene Ray’s tale of Santi is a clever story written with elegantly simple and carefully selected text that exudes fresh originality. The characteristics of cats that Ray chooses to highlight are spot on and fun—when Santi practices being a cat he practices ignoring everyone and pretends to be bored. The manga style artwork in its pastel color glory [by the talented Santiago Germano] is both emotive and excellent. And the book itself is a joy to handle with its thick glossy sheets that make it a pleasure to turn the pages.
Great for lap readers, independent readers, and cat lovers of all ages, The Little Mouse Santi is an inspiring tale that teaches us that, with a little courage, we can all be whoever we want to be. It’s definitely the cat’s meow!”
Here is a great interview with children’s author David Eugene Ray, who was a guest on the WWL-TV Morning Show in New Orleans. He is interviewed by the lovely Sally Ann Roberts, and you can see he is still glowing from the honor of writing one of the Best Books of 2015, as declared by Kirkus’ Reviews, with The Little Mouse Santi.
This book, which is the story of a mouse who dreams of being a cat, was inspired by the entire Ray family’s deep and abiding appreciation of crazy feline antics. The Little Mouse Santi is the first publication from Confetti Park, and we are so proud that it is also winner of a Gold Mom’s Choice Award and a Moonbeam Award (Best Picture Books for Children 4-8).
David originally spun this yarn as a bedtime story to his son Louis, who, by the way, accompanied Dave to the studio! Pics below the video.
Dave and Louis behind the scenes at WWL-TV. The Gris Gris Strut practice in the background.
What a small world! Also in the studio this morning was Tracey Katz, one of Dave’s phellow Phunny Phorty Phellows!
Sally Ann Roberts and David Eugene Ray chat at the break.
Seriously, it’s a small world. Dave (@aquarium_dave on Twitter) never expected to run into two of his co-workers from the Audubon Nature Institute: Brenda and Emmy, the ferret.
Louisiana-based children’s workshop Confetti Park is honored to announce that its first publication, The Little Mouse Santi, written by New Orleans author David Eugene Ray, has been named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2015.
Kirkus Reviews has named The Little Mouse Santi, a children’s book about a mouse who wants to be a cat, among the best books released in 2015. Kirkus Reviews calls The Little Mouse Santi “a clever picture book with an unexpected punch line that will delight young readers” in a starred review. This is the first publication from the Confetti Park children’s workshop based in New Orleans.
The Little Mouse Santi was written by David Eugene Ray (@Aquarium_Dave on Twitter), a former schoolteacher who works at the Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans. It was illustrated by Santiago Germano of Uruguay, whose body of work includes the animated feature film Anina.
The Little Mouse Santi debuted in January 2015 with distribution by Small Press United and has won several awards, including a Gold Mom’s Choice Award and a Bronze Moonbeam Children’s Book Award in the category of Best Picture Books for 4-8 Year Olds.
The Little Mouse Santi
“We are so honored to be named by Kirkus as among the 100 best indie books, and among the best books, released this year,” says Confetti Park founder Katy Hobgood Ray (whose husband is the author). “It’s incredibly gratifying and affirming when your creation resonates with other people. Thank you, Kirkus Reviews, for getting the word out about our little book and our little company!”
Confetti Park is a family-operated children’s media workshop in New Orleans that creates and curates entertainment for children. Santi author David Ray and Katy Ray regularly read and perform at schools and libraries in their home state of Louisiana. Katy also hosts and produces the Confetti Park radio show and podcast, featuring music and stories spun in Louisiana.
Illustrator Santiago Germano, whose “wonderful, cartoonish images…look like they wouldn’t be out of place in a Studio Ghibli animated film” (Kirkus Reviews), is currently working on a music video for Confetti Park. This time, Germano is giving life to the “Feufollet,” a spooky Louisiana swamp spirit. The song appears on Confetti Park’s first musical release for children, We’re Going to Confetti Park!, which debuted in November 2015.
The Little Mouse Santi is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and select independent booksellers nationwide. You can also order it from Confetti Park.
About Kirkus Reviews
Founded in 1933, Kirkus has been one of the most trusted and authoritative voices in book discovery. When Kirkus Reviews was established by Virginia Kirkus, it was an innovation in the publishing field. Virginia arranged to receive advance galley proofs of books from publishers — only 20 or so at first, but eventually nearly every firm of any size in the industry. She read the galleys and wrote brief, critical evaluations of their literary merit and probable popular appeal. Today, Kirkus Reviews covers more than 7,000 books published by traditional houses and more than 3,000 self-published books every year. The magazine is published on the 1st and 15th of every month, and because of the scope of their coverage, their authoritative voice and the timeliness of their reviews, Kirkus Reviews is revered by many as the first indicator of a book’s potential. For more information, visit www.kirkus.com.
Author David E. Ray holds his new children’s book, The Little Mouse Santi, as well as his main inspiration, his son Louis. Photo by David Lee Simmons / NOLA.com
Children’s Author and LSU Alumnus David Ray to Sign The Little Mouse Santi at LSU Barnes & Noble Before Homecoming Game on October 24
Louisiana-native children’s book author David Eugene Ray will be at Barnes & Noble to sign copies of his award-winning children’s book The Little Mouse Santi on October 24 from 1-3 p.m.
David Eugene Ray, an LSU alumnus and children’s book writer living in New Orleans, will be in Baton Rouge on Saturday, October 24 to sign copies of his award-winning children’s book The Little Mouse Santi as part of LSU’s numerous Homecoming activities on campus. The book signing will be held at the Barnes & Noble at LSU, 2 Union Square, from 1-3 p.m.
Winner of a Moonbeam Award, Mom’s Choice Awards gold, and a Kirkus star, The Little Mouse Santi is a beautifully illustrated story that explores one of the most important aspects of a child’s life—the search for identity. Santi wants to be a cat, and even though all the other mice laugh at him, he follows his dream. This timeless story ends with a whimsical twist as Santi learns a valuable lesson about self-determination while also learning he is not the only dreamer!
“A clever picture book with an unexpected punch line that will delight young readers.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“…an extraordinarily entertaining read.”—Midwest Book Review
“VERDICT A: A sweet and appealing book that speaks of the need to confront one’s fears in order to realize a dream.”—School Library Journal
About Confetti Park The Little Mouse Santi is published by Confetti Park, a children’s media workshop, podcast, and weekly radio program based out of New Orleans. Author David Eugene Ray, a.k.a. @Aquarium_Dave on Twitter, is a former schoolteacher who now works with animals at the Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans. This is his first publication. The gentle and lovely illustrations in The Little Mouse Santi were created by Santiago Germano. For more information visit confettipark.com
The Little Mouse Santi is the winner of a Moonbeam Award!
Confetti Park is honored and so delighted to announce that our first published children’s book, The Little Mouse Santi, has won a Moonbeam Children’s Award!
The Moonbeam awards are dedicated to the notion that reading to and with your children will inspire them to become lifelong readers and learners.
Author David Eugene Ray and illustrator Santiago Germano have won a Bronze Award for best picture books for children 4-8 years old in 2015. Their adorable book The Little Mouse Santi is about a little mouse who dreams of being a cat.
The Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, which is in its 9th year, are intended to bring increased recognition to exemplary children’s books and their creators, and to celebrate children’s books and life-long reading.
Each year’s entries are judged by expert panels of youth educators, librarians, booksellers, and book reviewers of all ages. Award recipients receive gold, silver and bronze medals and stickers depicting a mother and child reading and silhouetted by a full moon.
The Little Mouse Santi is a Mom’s Choice Awards® Gold Recipient
The Little Mouse Santi, written by New Orleans author David Eugene Ray, has earned the prestigious gold Mom’s Choice Award®. Having been rigorously evaluated by an MCA judging panel, The Little Mouse Santi is deemed to be among the best products for families.
The Mom’s Choice Awards® has named The Little Mouse Santi, a children’s book about a mouse with identity issues, as among the best in family-friendly media, products and services. This is the first book release from Confetti Park, an independent publisher and children’s media workshop in New Orleans.
The Little Mouse Santi is a 32-page illustrated children’s book that explores one of the most important aspects of a child’s life, the search for identity. Santi wants to be a cat, and he must confront his fears in order to realize his dream. The story ends with a whimsical twist: Santi learns a valuable lesson about self-determination and also learns he is not the only dreamer!
The Little Mouse Santi
The Little Mouse Santi was written by David Eugene Ray (@Aquarium_Dave on Twitter), a former schoolteacher who works at the Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans. It was illustrated by Santiago Germano, an animator and illustrator from Uruguay.
“We are proud to earn the Mom’s Choice Awards gold seal of approval,” says Katy Hobgood Ray, founder of Confetti Park. “We know all the great things the MCA does to connect consumers, educators, and caregivers with the best products and services available for families. I hope this award will bring awareness to the quality kids’ stuff coming out of Confetti Park!”
“Our aim to introduce families and educators to best-in-class products and services,” explains Dawn Matheson, Executive Director of the Mom’s Choice Awards. “We have a passion to help families grow emotionally, physically and spiritually. Parents and educators know that products and services bearing our seal of approval are high-quality and also a great value.”
The Little Mouse Santi was released in early 2015, and has received excellent reviews, including a Kirkus star. It is available for sale for $15 through Barnes & Noble, Amazon, some independent booksellers, and at the Confetti Park website.
About Confetti Park
Confetti Park is a children’s media workshop, podcast, and weekly radio program based out of New Orleans. The name for Confetti Park comes from a small playground in the heart of Algiers Point, a neighborhood on the bank of the Mississippi River. The next release from Confetti Park is a CD of original children’s songs inspired by life in Louisiana, out in Fall 2015, featuring a chorus of kids and a lineup of New Orleans musicians.
About the Mom’s Choice Awards®
The Mom’s Choice Awards® (MCA) evaluates products and services created for children and families. Products and services bearing the company’s mother-and-child Honoring Excellence Seal of Approval have earned the MCA distinction for helping families grow emotionally, physically and spiritually; being morally sound and promote good will; and are inspirational and uplifting.
The MCA program is globally recognized for establishing the benchmark of excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. The organization is based in the United States and has reviewed thousands of entries from more than 40 countries.
In addition to being a best-in-class company for the awards industry, the Mom’s Choice Awards provides collaborative lifetime marketing and promotional support to its Honorees. The company has invested heavily in creating educational, marketing and event opportunities to help Honorees and Distinguished Alumni reach their key markets effectively.
Around the world, parents, educators, retailers and members of the media look for the MCA mother-and-child Honoring Excellence Seal of Approval when selecting quality products and services for children and families.
Learn more about the Mom’s Choice Awards by visiting their website: www.MomsChoiceAwards.com.
From the get-go, from just the title of this review from The Horn Book Magazine, we were thrilled. The Little Mouse Santi got an outstanding review from the illustrious Horn Book, which has been writing about children’s literature since 1927. It was created as a list to “blow the horn for fine books for boys and girls,” wrote Bertha Mahony Miller, one of the women behind America’s first bookstore for children, The Bookshop for Boys and Girls.
Confetti Park and author David Eugene Ray couldn’t be happier to be among that fine company. Thank you to reviewer Martha Parravano (executive editor of The Horn Book Magazine).
The Little Mouse Santi is a winner… a classic-feeling picture book for young readers…it has a child-friendly, universal story; clean illustrations that recall Japanese anime but are entirely original; effective use of double-page spreads and of page turns; and a funny twist at the end.
Author David E. Ray holds his children’s book, The Little Mouse Santi, as well as his main inspiration, his son Louis. Photo by David Lee Simmons with NOLA.com
This past week Confetti Park author David Eugene Ray was interviewed by Mr. John Schu, a K-5 teacher-librarian and a well-known blogger, in a fun interview style. David finished all Mr. Schu’s sentences! Check out this wonderful interview!
Dave had the opportunity to discuss his book The Little Mouse Santi, the beautiful art of Santiago Germano, and what it’s like working at the Audubon Nature Institute (“the best work environment imaginable,” he says). He also talked about what it’s like to raise a child in New Orleans.
New Orleans is a place where people love life, and celebrate moments big and small. And the most misunderstood thing about the city is that it’s a very family friendly town, set up for kids to grow up amazed and inspired.
Confetti Park is so proud of the great reviews rolling in for The Little Mouse Santi! We got an A from the School Library Journal, a prestigious publication that has been printing since 1954. This publication is a go-to for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians as they decide which books to order. Thank you Teri Markson and thank you to School Library Journal, for helping us spread the word about Santi! Librarians, if you want to order our book (and we hope you do!), please order through IPG.
School Library Journal
05/01/2015
K-Gr 2—In this simple ode to felines and the power of one’s heart’s desire, little mouse Santi has only one wish: to be a cat. Every day he watches the cats on the farm and practices strutting, meowing, ignoring others, and pretending to be bored, all the while wishing he could join them for naps in the sun, romps in the grass, and cozy snoozes in the lap of the farmer’s wife. The other mice laugh at him, but he doesn’t care, and one day he finally gathers the courage to become a cat…with surprising results. The spare text and clean lines give the book the look and feel of an animated cartoon, while gentle visual humor and winsome facial expressions add depth to Santi’s longing. VERDICT A sweet and appealing book that speaks of the need to confront one’s fears in order to realize a dream.—Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library
David Eugene Ray will be selling and signing copies of his award-winning book, The Little Mouse Santi, at the New Orleans Baby & Child Fest on October 1st from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Pontchartrain Center. Look for him at the Confetti Park exhibitor booth. We will also be selling copies of our Parents’ Choice Award-winning CD, We’re Going to Confetti Park!, and taking pre-order for our newest children’s book, Candy Land Ball.
Confetti Park. This time, Germano is giving life to the “Feufollet,” a spooky Louisiana swamp spirit. The song appears on Confetti Park’s first musical release for children, 
