When the waters start rising in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, ten-year-old Louis Daniel and his parents flee through the flooded streets on a makeshift raft. They take refuge at the Superdome, and when he and his mom become separated from his dad in the chaos there, Louis Daniel takes out his cornet, stands in the center of the football field, and blows. His dad knows exactly who’s making that music! Author Myron Uhlberg references a few of the grimmer aspects of the Katrina tragedy in this picture book ably illustrated by Colin Bootman, but does so with restraint. A pile of clothes Louis Daniel sees in the water suggests a body. “Mama covered my eyes. 'Don’t look, Baby.’” At the Superdome, it’s noisy and smelly, and tempers often flare. But Uhlberg stays true to Louis Daniel’s perspective, including his ongoing concern for a black-and-white dog he saw floating on a bunch of boards. His reunion with the dog at story’s end may be a bit unrealistic, but it’s a welcome conclusion to a story that is admirable for its child-centered presentation of difficult events. (Ages 6–10)

A moving fictional story about the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the people of New Orleans, as seen through the eyes of a ten-year-old boy. A must-have for introducing this historical event to children.

Louis Daniel hates it when Mama treats him like a baby. But when Hurricane Katrina blows through the Gulf Coast, Louis feels like a little kid again. With no time to gather their belongings―except Louis's beloved horn―Daddy leads the family into an unfamiliar, watery world of floating debris, lurking critters, and desperate neighbors.

Taking shelter in the already-crowded Superdome, Louis and his parents wait...and wait. Conditions continue to worsen, and when Daddy fails to return from a scouting mission within the Dome, Louis knows he's no longer a baby. It's up to him to find his father―with the help of his prized cornet.

Award-winning author Myron Uhlberg highlights resilience and hope throughout this sensitively portrayed fictional story based on the real events of Hurricane Katrina. Colin Bootman's dramatic illustrations enhance the warmth and strength of the young narrator's family as they work through the tragedy.