Aileen Bennett – illustratör

What child isn’t excited to get the baby in the king cake? But it’s not all fun in games for third grader, Miley. After finding the baby in her slice of cake, she is crowned Queen of her classroom and quickly learns her new power comes with responsibility.As Queen, it’s Miley’s job to bring the next king cake to class, and she wants to make her friends happy by bringing the perfect one. Which king cake should she choose? New Orleans has hundreds of different kinds and everyone has a different opinion about what makes Louisiana’s favorite confection special! But with some advice from her dad and the help of a four-and-a-half-foot-tall plastic baby and a team of talking pastries, Miley tries to get to the bottom of Mardi Gras’ most pressing question once and for all: who makes the best king cake?From Matt Haines, author of mega-hit The Big Book of King Cake, comes the children’s book adaptation of Matt’s very own king cake story. The Little Book of King Cake is brought to life through Matt’s expert storytelling and the marvelous art of Louisiana illustrator Aileen Bennett. It’s a great addition to the library of anyone who loves The Big Book of King Cake, as well as the perfect holiday or Carnival season gift for the little king cake lovers in your life.

Inspired by Shel Silverstein, Emily Morrison stretches the bounds of imagination and enchantment in this collection infused with humor, empathy, profound truths, and delightful characters. The clever interplay of Aileen Bennett’s illustrations draws the reader into the nuances of the words as they come alive in the reader’s mind.Readers are introduced to Lila Duray—a quirky, book-loving girl with a passion for writing and whose author, Emily Morrison, has a penchant for poetry. Surrounded by an equally outrageous cast of characters, Lila Duray: A Collection of Delightfully Delectable Poems invokes whimsy in the ordinary and puts the extra in the extraordinary.Let your imagination run wild, go on a safari, a race against time, or an adventure in outer space. Morrison stretches the bounds of imagination and enchantment in this collection infused with humor, empathy, and profound truths. Lila Duray is meant to be shared and often read aloud. It may even inspire young readers to write their own poetry. This book will be cherished by readers of all ages. Perfect for gifting or special occasions, this collector’s item will be treasured for years to come.

"Quirky and entertaining, with a kid- and parent-savvy message." - Kirkus ReviewsA sharp-witted story about the antics of a charmingly defiant four-year-old girl simply delighted to test the will and patience of her well-meaning parents.Lila regularly says "no" to her parents’ daily requests like getting dressed for school and taking a bath. Somehow the tail has begun to wag the dog and her parents don’t know what to do. Lila refuses to do anything unless she is rewarded with a treat.The book tackles this ever-so-common aspect of the parent-child relationship with both humor and authenticity as parents with the best of intentions who do in fact know better, willingly walk into a trap set up by their own child.(Oh dear! Lila will be late for school!)So her mother says, if you get dressed for school, I’ll give you a treat.Wonder of wonders...Lila got dressed right away.When a strong, willful child finds success, she can wield her newfound power with unflinching resolve. But, as parents know all too well, sometimes big problems require simple solutions.Lila Said No is one of those rare books that hits just the right note. With its powerfully snappy and repetitive dialogue, colloquial phrases, and spectacular comedic timing, Lila Said No is an immensely gratifying read. While parents will empathize, children will be amused at Lila’s silly and audacious antics—ones they know she shouldn’t get away with, but nonetheless love to see her try.Lila’s spunk and spirit shine in the pitch perfect illustrations.

SCRIM: A New Orleans Story of Resilience and Rescue chronicles the heartwarming and epic journey of Scrim the terrier throughout New Orleans in picture book form for animal lovers everywhere. A true story, and originally featured in The Times-Picayune, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, ABC, CBS & NBC News and more, Scrim became an instant hero, "a living, panting embodiment of the spirit of New Orleans." -The New York TimesThis touching and beguilingly nuanced illustrated book, the story of a terrier-mix rescue who overcame trauma and hardships and kept going despite it all, is sure to be cherished, collected, and gifted by dog lovers and those who empathize with the obstacles all rescues face and endure.Author Kaye Courington, a lifelong animal lover and advocate, "wrote this book because Scrim’s story represents the resiliency and strong community of New Orleans. So many people came together to find and help Scrim—I’m not sure that would’ve happened anywhere else.”Michelle Cheramie, founder/owner of Zeus’ Rescues, coalesced a community of volunteers for some nine months to aid in Scrim’s ultimate journey to his forever home. That journey (documented by a srimtracker.com) encompassed evading death at a former shelter, surviving a hurricane, two gunshot wounds, dodging a train, crossing an interstate highway, and the 2025 New Orleans six-inch snowstorm.More than just a story, SCRIM is a testament to resilience and the lifesaving power of pet rescue. In an inspiring gesture of giving back, the author is donating all of her royalties to local rescues to support animals in need. See Scrim in film and print QR codes included in the back matter of the book for all readers. Including articles from The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Times-Picayune and videos from CBS, NBC and Scrim’s Happy Dance and Scooby and Scrim I LOVE Mornings to experience the FUR-ever joy of Scrim finally at home.

Sailing with Angels is a lyrical fable about grief, memory, and enduring love and a gentle reminder that love stays bright, even against strong headwinds.In her debut book, Laura Briel Sullivan introduces Princess Briel, a young girl navigating the loss of the generation ahead of her. Guided by a talisman, she journeys across sea and island, meeting wise characters—from the Judge to the Alchemist to the Harbormaster—each offering a piece of life’s quiet wisdom.Once upon a time, on an isle not so far away,Where ocean tides and sea winds play,A princess mourned of what had passedWhile souls set adrift upon raised masts.A story you will revisit for years—a book a child can understand and an adult may need.