Every child loves the fun and excitement ofwearing costumes and pretending. Now imagine if you got the chance to dress upand ride in a Mardi Gras parade. That is exactly what happens to the maincharacter in DJ AND THE ZULU PARADE . Yet riding on the popularZulu parade on Fat Tuesday, dressed as a page to the queen of Zulus, he findsthat along with the thrills comes some concerns. Like any child thrown into anew situation, young DJ finds that it can be quite overwhelming. DJ has tocope with his fears of falling off the float, of what his costume will be, andabout the make-up he will have to wear.This book answers many questions children have about the customs andtraditions of their own heritage, and it does so in a way children canunderstand and relate to. They can see their own fears and worries in DJ’sview of the experience. The appeal of the book is to both the children of NewOrleans who experience Mardi Gras every year, and children in general. Themessage of the book and the mystery of the traditions of New Orleans have auniversal appeal.A book for children aged five to eight, DJ AND THE ZULUPARADE is based upon the experiences of McConduit’s son who actuallyrode in the Zulu Parade. A busy mother of four, Ms. McConduit also finds timeto write poetry and participate in the New Orleans Poetry Forum.