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Crawfish, culture, and keeping the Cajun flame alive—author Tanya Ardoin is on a mission to preserve our French-speaking heritage through delightful children's books that charm readers of all ages.

The catalyst for Tanya's journey into authorship came from profound personal loss. "When I lost my mom, my biggest regret was I didn't record her voice speaking French," she shares candidly. This realization sparked a determination to document her aging family members' voices and stories before they disappeared. What began as recordings of her grandfather teaching French to her little cousin blossomed into the Crawville book series that's capturing hearts across Acadiana.

Each book cleverly introduces just one French word per page, making language learning accessible for young readers while including translations and phonetic spellings for parents. The characters themselves—Claudi the little girl and her Pawpaw as a crawfish—are lovingly based on Tanya's cousin Audie and her late grandfather. Beyond mere storytelling, these books serve as cultural touchstones, filled with authentic details from Corelle dishware to traditional "palettes" (floor bedding). Tanya has expanded her offerings to include companion coloring books in both children's and adult versions so families can learn together.

As a member of what she calls "the lost generation" of Cajun French speakers—those whose parents were punished for speaking French in school and thus didn't teach their children—Tanya's work represents a heartfelt attempt to reconnect younger generations with their heritage. Her upcoming third book will feature Cajun cooking with Pawpaw, doubling as both storybook and cookbook because, as she explains, "every book has to have a purpose."

Want to join the Cajun cultural revival? Visit TanyaArdoin.com to explore her books and learning materials, and don't miss the Grand Revé Acadien celebration in Church Point on October 18th—a perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the language, music, and traditions that make our community so special.

https://cajunmamas.com/

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