Thibodaux mother and son create Thanksgiving children's book with Cajun twist

Anne Cancienne says it's difficult for her to pick a favorite holiday because all of them hold a special place in her heart. 

“Holidays were always very special to me,” the 64-year-old Thibodaux resident said. “Growing up, my parents Lionel and Daisy Ledet always made sure holidays were happy and joyous. They always made sure the holidays were special. All of those memories have stayed with me."

For years, Cancienne wrote holiday-themed stories to entertain children. One of those stories has now become a book.

Her first published book, “Bouillon: The Cajun Turkey,” centers around Thanksgiving and was illustrated by Cancienne's son, Coby Cancienne. 

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“All of my stories will be set around holidays because that was the joy of my life,” she said. “I don’t know of any mother-and-son Cajun books in this area. Coby draws really well.” 

Though "Bouillon" was recently published by Portier Gorman Publications, the story has been in the works for years. Cancienne, who grew up telling stories and playing music, said her Cajun turkey story hatched from a school assignment.  

“When Coby was in third grade, I would write little stories and go read them to his class,” she said. “One day, Coby comes to me and says, ‘Mom, I need a Thanksgiving story.’ I asked him when, and he said, ‘Tomorrow.’ So I came home, and within two hours I had this story written. I went to read it to his class and the kids loved it.” 

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The rhyming book tells the story of a turkey named Bouillon who lives on a farm and experiences a Cajun Thanksgiving.  

“It’s centered around the Cajun culture,” Cancienne said. “My publisher told me I really need to keep the Cajun theme because the people around here love that stuff.” 

Before "Bouillon" landed on bookshelves, the story lived in Cancienne’s head. She would regale audiences every year with the tale as part of a Thanksgiving tradition but did not try to publish it. 

“I liked to write but didn’t know how to get my stories published,” she said. “When I got a little older, I entered it into a Nicholls writing and poetry contest and won. They had a Cajun author critique it, and he told me things he that liked about it and things that I could do to improve it. So I brought it home and played around with it.”  

For years, the story simmered like gumbo on the stove. Cancienne continued to read it to children and residents at the Thibodaux nursing home where she worked as an activity director.  

“At the same time, my son grew up to be an artist,” she said. “That’s how God works.” 

The manuscript eventually found its way to local publisher Carolyn Portier Gorman, who fell in love with Cancienne's colorful Thanksgiving tale and offered to publish it. 

“So far, the book has been selling well,” Cancienne said. “There are several stores that will be carrying copies. This is perfect timing because it will soon by the holidays and Bouillon will be knocking on the door.” 

Coby Cancienne said he was proud to work with his mom on the project that has been decades in the making. 

“It’s awesome,” he said. “This is something she always wanted to make. I’ve always been drawing stuff so the stars just kind of aligned. It’s great to do something like this with your mom which will be around long after we’re gone.” 

The mother-and-son team are working on two more holiday-themed books set in Louisiana. One will be a Halloween tale about a Cajun frog in the swamps on the night of Oct. 31. The other is a Christmas story about a mouse that wanders into a Cajun family’s house during Christmastime.  

Copies of “Bouillon” can be found at several Thibodaux locations, including Politz’s Restaurant, Donut and Deli, Bayouside Tobacco and Liquor Store and Nocko’s Discount Store in Chackbay.   

To buy a copy, you can also visit Cancienne’s Facebook page. 

— Staff Writer Dan Copp can be reached at 448-7639 or at dan.copp@houmatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanVCopp.