Tulane Center for Public Service: For The Children Literacy and Tutoring Program
Whole Village Art Therapy
YAYA Arts Center
Children’s Hospital Parenting Center
FAMILY DAY EXPO
The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University has partnered with the following literacy and family-centered organizations for the Family Day Expo. These organizations will be set up on the Berger Family Lawn to engage in literacy-based activities and to provide resources for children and their families.
- 826neworleans
- City Year New Orleans
- Community Works
- Newcomb Art Museum
- Krewe of Muses
- Stone Center for
Latin American Studies - Impossibility Press
- KID smart
- Make Music NOLA
- AfterClass
- New Orleans Public Library
- Public Allies New Orleans
- Start the Adventure in Reading
- Community Book Center
- R.E.A.D.
- A Studio in the Woods
















Family Day Schedule
All Family Day events are free and open to the public.
Additional Stages to be announced!
Meet the Family Day Authors



Downing has garnered multiple awards including a 2017 Louisiana Writer Award, 59th Grammy Award Participant Certificate, eight Parents’ Choice Awards, four iParenting Media Awards, two Parent’s Guide To Children’s Media Awards, four National Parenting Publications Awards, a Family Choice Award, two Family Review Center Awards, Family Review Center GoldAward, Family Review Center Best of the Year Award, DAR Literacy Promotion Award, an Imagination Award, and a Haiku International Association Honorable Mention Award. Her work has received rave reviews on Grammy.com and in Nick Jr. Magazine, Family Fun Magazine, Parenting Magazine, Parent’s Magazine, Publisher’s Weekly, American Library Association’s Booklist, School Library Journal, Washington Post, Early Childhood News, Cookie Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News, New Orleans Magazine, and Big Apple Parent to name a few. Further, she was selected as one of “The Women of the Year 2008” by New Orleans CityBusiness Magazine, “Thirty People to Watch in 2000” by New Orleans Magazine and “Forty Under Forty” by Gambit Weekly Magazine.





Preserving cultural traditions through family stories is important to Denise. It's how she grew up and it's what she passes on. Her first book, “D.J. and the Zulu Parade” depicts the adventures of her son, “D.J” when he rode in a Mardi Gras Parade. That book led to two other stories about the intrepid boy: “D.J. and the Jazz Fest”and “D.J. and the Debutante Ball”. McConduit feels that writing culturally rich books are essential because it’s important for children see themselves in literature.
Her newest book is titled, “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Read”.In this book young readers will meet Robbie, a stubborn little boy who doesn't like to read. When his wish is granted by a magician, his world gets topsy-turvy and he soon learns that life without reading is nothing to wish for! Denise often advises aspiring authors, "Do you have any interesting or funny characters in your family? If you do, you may want to write a story about them. I did!"
Denise has always been an avid reader and writer. In 2016 she was a featured presenter at the Arkansas Reading and Literacy (ARA) conference and received rave reviews for herTips forReluctant Readers presentation. Her personal mission is to write fun and meaningful stories for children.
Denise holds an English degree from the University of New Orleans and is available for conferences, library and school author visits: www.denisemcconduit.com

I have a Master in Computer Science from the National University of Buenos Aires, Argentina (1976 with thesis “Recognition of Myocardial Infarction by Digital Computer”), have a Certified Medical Manager’s degree (1991), and a diploma of Tour Guide of the City of New Orleans (1984).
I have written a previous book in Spanish, published in Argentina in 2001. You can see all the information about this book in my website: www.florencialevinton.com
My latest is a children’s book, self-published and in two languages: “My New Neighbors”/”Mis Nuevos Vecinos”. It’s really two books in one, on one side is the Spanish Version and when you flip it over you can read the English version.
On the surface, the book is about two Mallard ducks that arrive agitated in my neighborhood trying to communicate something that we don’t understand. All the neighbors start to help out in solving the mystery while we try to find out what they are trying to tell us. Each page ends with a question that allows kids to imagine different solutions to the difficulties the ducks and neighbors face. This also lets the story teller interact with the young audience. However, if you dig deeper into the real meaning of the story, the significance lies in the importance of communication not only in reference to language. It also reinforces the importance of collaboration and team work to get the “job” done.
I have read the children’s book in several venues and also been interviewed regarding this book. Please see below. Also find information on the children’s book at: www.florencialevinton.com


Author Kathleen Welch is an adjunct professor teaching courses in public health at Tulane University and the University of New England. Before earning her interdisciplinary PhD in global health, epidemiology and sociology from Tulane University, she earned an MA in education and a BA in Russian language and literature from Ohio State University. Her peer-reviewed articles on health issues have appeared in major medical journals across the country.
Welch has been an Alzheimer’s Association Ambassador for Rep. Cedric Richmond of Louisiana. She is a recipient of the American Psychiatric Association’s Public Affairs Network Award for developing “The Psychiatrist is in City Park,” a campaign to destigmatize mental illness. A member of Delta Omega, the honor society in public health, and a named Fulbright Scholar, Welch uses her love of the arts to convey serious messages. Her husband, Alan McGillivray, helps her in these endeavors.
Bio for Alan McGillivray, Illustrator of Sometimes Even Elephants Forget: A Story about Alzheimer’s Disease for Young Children
Illustrator Alan McGillivray earned a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art and a Master of Architecture from Tulane University. McGillivray has taught art and design at Tulane School of Architecture, the University of Maine at Farmington, and Mt. Blue Middle School. He is a recipient of the American Psychiatric Association’s Public Affairs Network Award for art created for a New Orleans mental-health campaign. He has been assisting his wife, Kathleen Welch, integrating art and public health initiatives for over twenty years.
