Easy-to-read text paired with colorful photos and informative captions introduces readers to a lively holiday, Mardi Gras. Readers will learn the story of Mardi Gras, its connection with the Christian holidays Lent and Easter, and how it spread to the United States with the arrival of French explorers in New Orleans. Traditions including costumed balls and large feasts are discussed, as well as modern customs such as parades, beads, and king cake. Features include table of contents, glossary with phonetic spellings, and index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Buddy Books is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.