My latest book titled Chef Creole, illustrated by Deborah Ousley Kadair (Pelican Publishing Company) has been released! In this colorful and interactive storybook, children of all ages are invited to piece together Louisiana's favorite foods to create the tastiest man ever, Chef Creole. To the tune of "Aiken Drum," Chef Creole dances on the page and plays his ladle like a guitar. With arms of boudin and eyes of red beans, he encompasses all of the Pelican State's most famous flavors. Deborah Ousley Kadair's collage illustrations make it easy for children to identify the classic Louisiana fare. The book also includes a glossary of many of the featured foods and terms, from French bread to okra, and the history of the dishes such as red beans and rice.
Pick up your autographed copies of the book at a book signing on January 3, 2009 from 11:00-1:00 at the Hudson News Store in the New Orleans-Louis Armstrong International airport.
This book cooks!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Music Monthly - December 2008
Light
Light is a common theme in cultural and religious celebrations this month. Here is a traditional song about light. For more information about this song, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Little_Light_of_Mine
This Little Light Of Mine
This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine
This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine
This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Every where I go, I'm going to let it shine....
In my neighborhood, I'm going to let it shine....
In my family, I'm going to let it shine
Light is a common theme in cultural and religious celebrations this month. Here is a traditional song about light. For more information about this song, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Little_Light_of_Mine
This Little Light Of Mine
This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine
This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine
This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Every where I go, I'm going to let it shine....
In my neighborhood, I'm going to let it shine....
In my family, I'm going to let it shine
Music Monthly - November 2008
Instrument Families
Did you know that musical instruments are categorized by “families?” Well, they are! There are four basic families; string, woodwind, brass and percussion. Instruments are placed in these families because they share certain characteristics such as how they make their sounds, how they are made and what materials are used to make them. Let’s start with the percussion family this month. Percussion instruments are those that are struck, shaken or scraped with or without mallets. Now let’s test you percussion instrument savvy with a little game:
1. List one percussion instrument that is shaken: --------------------------
2. List one percussion instrument that is scraped: --------------------------
3. List one percussion instrument that is struck with a mallet: --------------------
4. List one percussion instrument that is struck without a mallet: -----------------
See a list of possible answers below.
1. Tambourine, maracas or bells
2. Guiro or sand blocks
3. Drum, gonog, wood block, glockenspiel or xylophone
4. Drum such as a conga or bongo, cymblas, piano or harp
Did you know that musical instruments are categorized by “families?” Well, they are! There are four basic families; string, woodwind, brass and percussion. Instruments are placed in these families because they share certain characteristics such as how they make their sounds, how they are made and what materials are used to make them. Let’s start with the percussion family this month. Percussion instruments are those that are struck, shaken or scraped with or without mallets. Now let’s test you percussion instrument savvy with a little game:
1. List one percussion instrument that is shaken: --------------------------
2. List one percussion instrument that is scraped: --------------------------
3. List one percussion instrument that is struck with a mallet: --------------------
4. List one percussion instrument that is struck without a mallet: -----------------
See a list of possible answers below.
1. Tambourine, maracas or bells
2. Guiro or sand blocks
3. Drum, gonog, wood block, glockenspiel or xylophone
4. Drum such as a conga or bongo, cymblas, piano or harp
Snow in South Louisiana?
It snowed in South Louisiana last week! No, this is not a misprint! It actually snowed. Of course, I was on tour in North Louisiana at the time and missed the entire four hours of snow, though I did see photographs and I had to drive in the icy and snowy conditions from North Louisiana through Mississippi to South Louisiana. The hardest part of it all was that we don't know how to drive in ice and snow, so the roads were a hazard. I arrived home safely, but all the snow was gone. Now, when everyone says, "Remember when it snowed," I can only say "not really." The silver lining to this story is that my performances in Oak Grove were so much fun and I had a great time with all the children.
Kids Music that Rocks
Thanks Kids Music that Rocks for mentioning me on your Blog! You rock!
A View From The Inside: Kids' Musicians Who Blog
By Warren Truitt(Warren Truitt)
I've always loved reading about the day-to-day lives of rockers, not necessarily how many tv sets they've thrown out various hotel windows, but normal stuff like working in the studio or playing in front of a rabid crowd.The kids' music world is building up a pretty good list of musicians who blog about their experiences, from Yosi Levin's interview-rich Indie Kids Rock, to Monty Harper's neverending pro-library tour at Monty's Children's Music Blog, from Johnette Downing's look at the business side of kids' music on her self-titled Johnette Downing blog, to Steve Dreher's musings on music and parenthood at Rockin' the Kids' Music World, to Eric Herman's reviews and interviews on Cool Tunes for Kids and his tour diary at Travelblogue.
Kids' Music that Rocks - http://kidsmusicthatrocks.blogspot.com/
A View From The Inside: Kids' Musicians Who Blog
By Warren Truitt(Warren Truitt)
I've always loved reading about the day-to-day lives of rockers, not necessarily how many tv sets they've thrown out various hotel windows, but normal stuff like working in the studio or playing in front of a rabid crowd.The kids' music world is building up a pretty good list of musicians who blog about their experiences, from Yosi Levin's interview-rich Indie Kids Rock, to Monty Harper's neverending pro-library tour at Monty's Children's Music Blog, from Johnette Downing's look at the business side of kids' music on her self-titled Johnette Downing blog, to Steve Dreher's musings on music and parenthood at Rockin' the Kids' Music World, to Eric Herman's reviews and interviews on Cool Tunes for Kids and his tour diary at Travelblogue.
Kids' Music that Rocks - http://kidsmusicthatrocks.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
5 Star Rating from TD Monthly Music Expert!
TDmonthly’s Music Expert
She’ll Tell You Which Albums Hit the Right Notes
By Anna Bendorf December 2008
If you want to know which children’s CDs may be worth carrying in your store, see what TDmonthly’s Music Expert has to say. Each month, she listens to music from various publishers and rates each album with from 1 to 5 TD (for TDmonthly!) stars — 5 is the highest rating. She was blown away by the musicianship, lyrics and creativity found in the following albums:
Dixieland Jazz for Children by WIGGLE WORM RECORDS
Age: 4 to 8
Gender: Boys and Girls
MSRP: $15.99
TDmonthly rating: ***** Five Star
My Impressions:
These musicians know Dixieland jazz style and have produced a really fun CD for kids! At the very beginning of the CD, the lead singer gives a brief story about when and where Dixieland jazz originated. In addition, they introduce each instrument on the CD, one by one, so that kids can hear the difference in the sound. As a music educator, I love how the musicians have put this one together.
Kid's Perspective:
One of the great things about this CD is that it is truly not age-specific. Many CDs on the market are targeted at a very small age group, and your child can only enjoy them for a couple years at most. At age 2, my daughter thinks this CD is really fun to dance to, but I know she will be able to continue listening to it for years to come.
My Recommendation:
As a musician and a mom, I give this CD a very high rating! The musicians are very good and this music is easy for all ages to enjoy. As a side note, my husband and I thought the last song, "Someday Your Dreams," was very pretty and even romantic.
Thanks Anna! You hit the right notes with us too!
She’ll Tell You Which Albums Hit the Right Notes
By Anna Bendorf December 2008
If you want to know which children’s CDs may be worth carrying in your store, see what TDmonthly’s Music Expert has to say. Each month, she listens to music from various publishers and rates each album with from 1 to 5 TD (for TDmonthly!) stars — 5 is the highest rating. She was blown away by the musicianship, lyrics and creativity found in the following albums:
Dixieland Jazz for Children by WIGGLE WORM RECORDS
Age: 4 to 8
Gender: Boys and Girls
MSRP: $15.99
TDmonthly rating: ***** Five Star
My Impressions:
These musicians know Dixieland jazz style and have produced a really fun CD for kids! At the very beginning of the CD, the lead singer gives a brief story about when and where Dixieland jazz originated. In addition, they introduce each instrument on the CD, one by one, so that kids can hear the difference in the sound. As a music educator, I love how the musicians have put this one together.
Kid's Perspective:
One of the great things about this CD is that it is truly not age-specific. Many CDs on the market are targeted at a very small age group, and your child can only enjoy them for a couple years at most. At age 2, my daughter thinks this CD is really fun to dance to, but I know she will be able to continue listening to it for years to come.
My Recommendation:
As a musician and a mom, I give this CD a very high rating! The musicians are very good and this music is easy for all ages to enjoy. As a side note, my husband and I thought the last song, "Someday Your Dreams," was very pretty and even romantic.
Thanks Anna! You hit the right notes with us too!
Monday, December 1, 2008
December 2008 Tour Schedule
December 5, School Performance Tour, Westtown, PA
December 7 from 11:00-12:30, Book signing, Grand Opening, Borders Books and Music, New Orleans, LA
December 10 at 9:00 & 1:00, Fiske Theatre, Oak Grove, LA
December 11 at 9:00 & 1:00, West Carroll Parish Library, Oak Grove, LA
December 13 from 10:00-12:00, Book Signing, Rouses #14, Veterans Blvd, Metairie, LA
December 13 from 1:00-3:00, Book Signing, Rouses #33, Power Blvd, Metairie, LA
December 20 from 10:00-12:00, Book Signing, Rouses #20, Hwy 190, Covington, LA
December 20 from 1:00-3:00, Book Signing Rouses #31, Park Place Dr., Covington, LA
December 7 from 11:00-12:30, Book signing, Grand Opening, Borders Books and Music, New Orleans, LA
December 10 at 9:00 & 1:00, Fiske Theatre, Oak Grove, LA
December 11 at 9:00 & 1:00, West Carroll Parish Library, Oak Grove, LA
December 13 from 10:00-12:00, Book Signing, Rouses #14, Veterans Blvd, Metairie, LA
December 13 from 1:00-3:00, Book Signing, Rouses #33, Power Blvd, Metairie, LA
December 20 from 10:00-12:00, Book Signing, Rouses #20, Hwy 190, Covington, LA
December 20 from 1:00-3:00, Book Signing Rouses #31, Park Place Dr., Covington, LA
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