Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Happy New Year!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Tour Schedule - January 2010
Tour Schedule - January 2010
January 8 at 12:00-1:00, Book Signing, Tisket A Tasket Book Shop, 1235 Decatur St., New Orleans, LA
January 8-23, Workshop and Concert Tour in Seoul, Daejeon, Busan and Daegu, Korea
January 30 from 11-1, Book Signing, Sams Club, Metairie, LA
Music for Montessori and Johnette Downing
Music for Montessori and Johnette Downing by Liz Hannan
Please check out Johnette Downing’s CD collection for great songs to use
in your Montessori circles. The melodies are delightful and her recordings are pure.
She always includes the lyrics on the jacket. Yeah!!!
Everyone will be able to sing along with ease.
You will discover that her songs connect with your units
and they are also great for part cards.
The language is rich and will expand everyone’s vocabulary.
I am excited to share with everyone how Johnette Downing has enriched my music circles in 11
Montessori schools within the San Francisco Bay Area.
BTW: I lined my tray with peel and stick felt.
This keeps the noise down as instruments get passed around the circle.
The first instrument I introduce for passing is the egg shaker.
It is the easiest for their small hands and it is a no fail manipulation.
I have it in a small, egg shaped box and present it as teachers present all
Montessori materials.
Heads up…I place the egg in the box but leave the lid on my work rug.
Otherwise each child will return the lid to the box and every other child has to remove it.
Great exercise for other circles but too much time for music since
I have other instruments I want to pass.
From her CD, Fins and Grins, we sing Johnette’s The Aquarium.
I shake the egg on the word, “strange”.
I do the first 3 verses and then pass the egg on my tray.
When it is returned to me we all sing the refrain one last time.
Johnette’s Circle of Life is classic for any unit on fish and/or the sea.
It includes graduated sizes of fish as well as the food chain.
The movements are fun and easy.
When the children have really learned the song well I
do the hand movements but do not sing the names of the fish.
The children love this challenge.
You must check out Johnette’s Second Line CD for songs with scarves.
The songs are easy, darling and great for movement.
I was so excited to do these songs.
I bought small, bright colored scarves which were great for floating.
Here is what happened to my circle.
Being Montessori children they all began to fold the scarves into squares and triangles.
I did not have the heart to stop that activity but it took the rest of my circle time.
Not to be out done and miss out on great songs…I changed to hands.
Ta Da !!! Hands up, 2-3-4-5-6-7 and 8. Hands down, 2-3-4-5-6-7- and 8. Etc.
Have fun with Johnette Downing in your Montessori schools.
Liz Hannan
Music for Montessori
Music Together
Children’s Music Network
Monday, December 14, 2009
The Big Read 2010 Selection!
My book Today is Monday in Louisiana is one of three books for Lower School selected on the Recommended Reading list for the National Coalition of Girls' Schools (NCGS) "Big Read" 2010!!! How cool is that???
Here is the review:
http://nola.ncgs.org/the-big-read-2010/
Today Is Monday in Louisiana by Johnette Downing
PreSchool-Grade 3 — A variation of a Louisiana song with a twist–each day a new food is served as a faceless assortment of children come one by one to the table. Eventually, there are seven, with seven different dishes in front of them, a cat and dog underneath the table waiting for scraps, and a grandmotherly figure overseeing everything.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Mailbox - Letters from Fans and Friends
On behalf of everyone at the French Consulate, thank you for a wonderful performance Saturday at our Fête des enfants. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed you and your unique talent- you really added something special to our program.
-Heidi
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Music Monthly - December 2009: What is Jazz?
http://pbskids.org/jazz/index.html
"Read & Spin," New Orleans Magazine Review
"Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud is an important study of Louisiana's most important crustacean. Yes, it's a story picture book and sure to be a hit with early readers. The tale of trickster Crawfish and hard-working Crab culminates with a valuable moral. Bonus: Mom and Dad could learn a lesson. Bonus No. 2: writer Johnette Downing's illustrations are collage-like and sure to spark some artistic endeavers by budding Romare Beardens."
-Alisha Murphy, Read & Spin, New Orleans Magazine, November 2009
Tour Schedule - December 2009
December 6 from 12:30-1:30, Book Signing, A Tisket A Tasket, French Quarter, New Orleans, LA
December 6 at 2:00 & 3:00, St. Nicholas Day Fair, Dutch Alley Performance Pavillion, Alley Off Decatur, New Orleans, LA
December 9-11, Washington DC
December 12 at 10:30, Grand Opening Concert, The Parenting Center, New Orleans, LA
December 12 from 2:00-4:00, Book Signing, Barnes & Noble, Baton Rouge, LA
December 19 from 7:00-8:30 p.m., Book Signing, Barnes & Noble, Harvey, LA
December 23-31, North Carolina
Happy Thanksgiving
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am grateful for all of my fans, clients, friends and family. Many blessings to you all.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Mailbox - Letters from Fans and Friends
-Anne Mayeaux, Chateau Estates Elementary
Kenner, LA
Monday, November 2, 2009
The Daily Advertiser Mentions My Book
Another Louisiana author and children's musician Johnette Downing offers her take on why crawfish like to hide beneath the earth's surface in Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud, another Pelican title.
-Chere Cohen, The Daily Advertiser - Lafayette, LA, USA
November 1, 2009
Thanks for the mention Chere!
Tour Schedule - November 2009
November 7 from 10:00-12:00, Book Signing, Sams Club, Harvey, LA
November 7 from 2:00-4:00, Book Signing, Sams Club, Kenner, LA
November 14 at 12:30 & 2:30, Three Rivers Art Festival, Childrens Village, Downtown Covington, LA
November 21-30, North Carolina
Monday, October 26, 2009
Fun Filled Weekend
Monday, October 12, 2009
Mailbox - Letters from Fans and Friends
-Kati, Wilmington, NC
To answer your question Kati, a queztal is a beautiful bird. It is the official bird of Costa Rica.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Tour Dates - October 2009
October 14 from 7:00-8:30, Educator Night, Barnes & Noble, Mandeville, LA
October 17 from 10:00-10:45, Book Talk, State Library Seminar Center, Louisiana Book Festival, State Library, Downtown Baton Rouge, LA
November 17 from 11:00-11:30, Concert, Storytelling Tent, Louisiana Book Festival, State Library, Baton Rouge, LA
November 17 from 11:45-12:30, Book Signing, Barnes & Noble Tent, Louisiana Book Festival, Downtown Baton Rouge, LA
November 17 from 12:45-1:45, Book Signing, Pelican Publishing Booth, Louisiana Book Festival, Downtown Baton Rouge, LA
October 23 at 2:00 & 3:00, Children's Stage, Washington Parish Fair, Franklinton, LA
October 23 at 7:00 p.m., Boo at the Zoo, Audubon Zoo, New Orleans, LA
October 24 at 10:30, Monster Mash, Bogue Falaya Park, Covington, LA
October 24 at 2:45, Buddy Walk, Zephyr Stadium, Metairie, LA
October 24 at 8:00 p.m., Boo at the Zoo, Audubon Zoo, New Orleans, LA
October 31 from 12:00-2:00, Book Signing, Barnes & Noble, Johnston Street, Lafayette, LA
October 31 at 5:00, Scare on the Square, Downtown Abbeville, LA
Mailbox - Letters from Fans and Friends
Thanks a Million!!!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
NWI Parent picks Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud as a "Kids Pick"
KIDS PICK
AGES 6 TO 8
Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud
by Johnette Downing (Pelican Publishing, $15.95)
Author Johnette Downing does double duty for this clever story about what happens one very hot and humid day on the bayou to a hungry and lazy crawfish. With the author providing her own clever illustrations, as the story unfolds, there’s also a generous seasoning of Cajun phrases and fun crawfish facts. Filled with lessons to be learned and other fun characters like a dedicated crab, this book is swimming with fun for young readers. It’s available in stores or at pelicanpub.com.
-Philip Potempa,
NWI Parent, Northwest Times of Indiana
Monday, October 5, 2009
Kirkus Digs Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud!
Downing, Johnette
WHY THE CRAWFISH LIVES IN THE MUD
Illus. by the author
In this original pourquoi tale, hungry Crawfish spies the fish that Crab has just caught for his dinner. Wily Crawfish convinces Crab that the fish is much too small for him, goading him into relinquishing his catch into Crawfish’s clutches and scuttling further down the bayou in search of a bigger challenge. Contrary to Crawfish’s story, Crab finds no big fish in the bayou. He threatens to throw Crawfish into the mud, and Crawfish protests so much that it seems this is heading straight into Br’er Rabbit territory. It turns out Crawfish’s protests are genuine, though. As he tries to back away from Crab he accidentally digs a tunnel in the mud and falls into it, where he will live from now on. A serviceable trickster tale jazzed up with Cajun French phrases defined both in the text and in a glossary.... (Crawfish Fun Facts) (Picture book. 4-8)
-Kirkus Reviews
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Mailbox - Letters & Video from Fans and Friends
Hi Johnette. I emailed you quite some time ago requesting permission (which you granted -- thank you!) to play your CD's occasionally in my preschool/toddler music classes here in and around Seattle. I still use "Ants in my Pants" whenever we do egg shakers and, boy, do the kids love it!
Well, my own two offspring were rocking out today...and I'd love for you to check out the video I posted on my blog: http://www.jenny524.blogspot.com/ I think you'll enjoy their spontaneous dance party! :)
Happy music-making to ya!
-Jenny Martin
Seattle, WA
Thanks guys! You ROCK!!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Mailbox - Letters from Fans and Friends
-Gail MZZ, New Orleans, LA
Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud Book Mention by Susan Larson
The latest literary updates from around New Orleans
Fall is the season for turning over a new page, and this season's offerings are a book-lover's bounty
by Susan Larson, Book editor, The Times-Picayune
Wednesday September 16, 2009, 3:00 AM
The local scene is equally vibrant, with a full slate of fiction and local interest titles, and a strong selection of children's books; there are striking new voices and many happy returns from local favorites.
-- 'Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud, ' by Johnette Downing (Pelican Publishing, $15.95, ages 5 to 8, September), is the singer-songwriter's most recent book offering, a Louisiana folk tale.
Thanks Susan. You are a gem!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Tour Dates - September 2009
September 26 from 1:30-3:00, Book Signing, Garden District Books, Prytania Street, New Orleans, LA
Mailbox - Letters from Friends and Fans
Sincerely,
Dana Clement
Lafourche Parish Library
Thanks Dana and the Lafourche Parish Library! I had a great time in your library system as always! You all are very "artist-friendly" as well as professional, and that is much appreciated!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Mailbox - Letters from Fans and Friends
Laura Leinhardt
1st grade teacher
Marrero Academy
Thanks Laura for sharing this great story and for sharing my music with your students. I look forward to performing at your school soon! Teachers ROCK!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
My New Book is IN!!!
Monday, September 7, 2009
In the Kitchen with Johnette - Offbeat Magazine Feature Article
In the Kitchen with Johnette
By Elsa Hahne
I learned to cook from my grandmother who lived in St. Amant, near Gonzales. She was Creole: French, Spanish and Native American, and she was the best cook. The only thing I didn't learn to cook from her was gumbo because she'd always say, "Start with a roux." And I'd say, "What's a roux?" And she'd say, "You know what a roux is! Just start with a roux!" But I didn't. She wasn't patient enough; she would just exasperate.
The first time I made a roux, I got the jar of roux. I still use the jar because I really don't know how to make a roux the way you're supposed to do it. I've made it before, just with flour and oil and onions, but it doesn't come out like her roux so I'm not happy. I always stop too soon because I'm afraid I'm going to burn it.
In Louisiana, music and food go hand in hand. I mean; that's what we're all about: music and food. No surprise that my music, since I'm from Louisiana, a lot of my songs have to do with food. I wrote this song called Today Is Monday in Louisiana. It's based on a traditional song, but I was looking at the ingredients, all the dishes in the traditional song, and they were Monday roast beef, then chicken and string beans, and I said, "I have to do this for Louisiana, we have the best food in the world!" So I did Monday red beans, Tuesday po-boys, Wednesday gumbo, Thursday jambalaya, Friday catfish, Saturday crawfish and Sunday beignets. That song was a really big hit; itís still one of my biggest hits. And because of that song, a lady was in the audience with her son and she came up to me and said, 'Can I illustrate that song and make it into a book?' and that's how the books started. We did My Aunt Came Back from Louisiane and Chef Creole and both have food in them.
I do about 250 shows a year so I travel a lot, but anytime I'm home, I like to cook. I do it as often as possible. I use my Today Is Monday in Louisiana book when I travel, and I travel internationally and use the book as a cultural bridge. I'll sing my version and then, whatever country I'm in, let's say I'm in Oman, we'll do their version. They might have biryani, shish kebab, or whatever foods they have in their culture, and then we'll talk about the foods we have in common. Food is a great way to reach other cultures. Food doesn't have an agenda.
When I give concerts and workshops in other countries, Ií'l say 'What do we have in common?' and usually itís rice. Or fish, depending on where it is. But usually rice, so I say, 'See, children? We're really all just rice. We can be brown rice or jasmine rice or saffron rice; long-grain rice or short-grain rice, but really we're just all rice.' Food is non-threatening, non-political, and itís just a nice way to connect the world, I find.
The funny thing about traveling and being from New Orleans is that wherever I go, I'll eat anything. I went to Morocco and I had camel. I'm not sure I want to eat camel again, but I tried it. It was kind of spongy, almost like tofu, and it's a camel color. People like when you'll try. I'm not a picky eater because I live here. We'll try anything and people appreciate that. It's a way of being accepting and open to new ideas and concepts and traditions and new ways of living, different from your own culture. I've learned that. My grandmother always made hogshead cheese and just the idea of it, 'I'm not eating hogshead cheese.' So I never tried it, but the other night my boyfriend and I went to Cochon and they gave us a complimentary piece of hogshead cheese, so I tried it. And it was so good. All this time, I never tried it! I know my grandmother's, it must have been great because people would come over when they found out she was cooking. I missed the opportunity to try hers."
Johnetteís Sausage Mambo
Johnette enjoys this dish by itself, but you could easily serve it over rice or pasta. Actually, this recipe constitutes half of Johnette's jambalaya recipe as well. The other half is Zatarainís jambalaya mix. "Like they say, donít fix what ainít broke. It works and itís great. Just add an extra handful of plain rice."
1 link Polska Kielbasa sausage (Hillshire Farm)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon Tony Chachereís Creole Seasoning
1 yellow onion, diced
5 cloves garlic, chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
1 orange bell pepper, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 tub sliced mushrooms
Slice sausage into doubloons. Heat oil and Worcestershire sauce in a skillet. SautÈ sausage until deep red in color, adding parsley and Tony Chachereís. Add onion and garlic. When onion becomes translucent, add bell peppers and mushrooms. SautÈ until vegetables are tender.
http://www.offbeat.com/magazine/gravy.php
Home from Vacation
Here's what has been brewing while I was away:
1) My latest book
Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mudis scheduled to be released this month; hopefully, by September 15.
2) I have several book signings lined up for the new book release.
3) I am nearly finished a new CD titled
Boogie Woogie Bugs.
4) My 2009/2010 school year calendar is quickly filling up.
5) Offbeat Magazine featured me in their September 2009 issue. The feature article by Elsa Hahne is titled "In the Kitchen with Johnette," and it includes a recipe for my Sausage Mambo. Pick up a copy of the magazine while you can still find them.
6) Check out my web site for my Fall Festival schedule.
See you soon!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Tour Dates - August 2009
For the first time EVER, I am taking the entire month of August off for some much needed rest and relaxation. I plan to recharge my batteries while simultaneously writing and illustrating some new books and finishing the song writing for my new Boogie Woogie Bugs CD. Sooooo, as of today, I am on vacation!!! Yeah!!!
See you in September!
Mailbox - Letters from Fans and Friends
"Thank you so much for your wonderful performances this summer and it was really nice to see you again. The children always enjoy your music and especially your performances. Your books are very popular also, especially after your performances, they stayed checked out! Especially Chef Creole! The girls doing the pyramid at Saline Branch was way too cool and so creative! I am including a photo of the pyramid with this e-mail. Take care and we are really excited that you will be performing again in 2011. Thank you so much Johnette."
Jeanie Basinger
Bienville Parish Library
Saline Branch
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Music Monthly - July 2009
In honor of my Clam Shell Clap song being nominated for the Just Plain Folks Award, I thought I would give you a fun sea shell craft and tongue twister to enjoy this summer.
Sea Shell Shakers
by Johnette Downing
Copyright 2009 Johnette Downing
Materials:
One plastic water bottle with lid
One hand full of sea shells and sand
Instructions:
Place a handful of sea shells mixed with sand in an empty, clean and dry plastic water bottle
Fasten the lid
Shake!
Now try playing the sea shell shaker rhythmically while reciting the following tongue twister:
She Sells Sea Shells Tongue Twister
She sells sea shells by the sea shore.
The shells she sells are surely seashells.
So if she sells shells on the seashore,
I'm sure she sells seashore shells.
Enjoy!
My New MP3 Store is a Hit!
Grant Parish Library Schedule Changes
July 30 at 10:00 & 3:00, Grant Parish Library, Montgomery & Georgetown, LA
July 31 at 10:00 & 3:00, Grant Parish Library, Dry Prong & Pollock, LA
See you there!
Friday, July 17, 2009
LaSalle Parish Library Schedule Change
Monday, July 13, 2009
Mailbox - Letters from Fans and Friends
- Stevie
Thanks for sending me this lovely note Stevie! I feel quite honored to have elicited your sons first clapping! Wow! Stay tuned to my schedule because I may be performing in NC/VA very soon!
- Johnette
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Praise for My Blog!
Featured Blogs:
Johnette Downing: http://johnettedowning.blogspot.com/
Johnette has the most important aspect of a blog covered: she updates regularly! Johnette posts her tour dates, reviews, notes from fans, award information, and any other important news. She also has fun photos posted, links on the side, and an online version of tic-tac-toe (just for fun!). Johnette also has a superb website, which I will feature in a future newsletter.
I have never had praise for my Blog before; that's really cool. Thanks Caitlin and Pelican Publishing. I have nothing but praise for you too!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Tour Dates - July 2009
July 5 from 3:15-5:00, Kids Stage, Mandeville Seafood Festival, Mandeville, LA
July 6, Ripples Camp, New Orleans, LA
July 8 at 10:00 & 2:00, Allen Parish Library, Kinder & Oberlin, LA
July 9 at 10:00, Allen Parish Library, Oakdale, LA
July 13 at 9:30, Castle Tree Camp, New Orleans, LA
July 14 at 10:00 & 1:30, Plaquemines Parish Library, Belle Chasse, LA
July 15 at 10:00, West Feliciana Parish Library, St. Francisville, LA
July 16 at 10:00 & 2:00, Iberia Parish Library, New Iberia & Loreauville, LA
July 17 at 10:00 & 2:00, LaSalle Parish Library, Jena & Olla, LA
July 18 at 3:00, Pal's Ice Cream Shop, Mandeville, LA
July 21 at 10:30 & 2:00, Lafourche Parish Library, Cut Off & Lockport, LA
July 22 at 10:30 & 2:00, Lafourche Parish Library, Thibodaux, LA
July 30, Grant Parish Library, Montgomery & Georgetown, LA
July 31, Grant Parish Library, Dry Prong & Pollock, LA
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Just Plain Folks Award Nominations
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Summer Reading Program Photos
Here is a link to some photos taken by the Times Picayune newspaper during my May 26, 2009 performance at the St. Tammany Parish Library in Covington as a Kick-off to the Summer Reading Program 2009!
http://photos.nola.com/gallery/4500/Around%20New%20Orleans,%20Tuesday%20May%2026,%202009
Read, read, read!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Digital Store
http://www.johnettedowning.com/digital.html
Tour Dates - June 2009
June 2 at 1:30, Ripples Camp, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
June 3 at 10:00 & 2:00, Iberville Parish Library, Plaquemines and Grosse Tete/Rosedale, LA
June 4 at 10:30 & 2:00, Iberville Parish Library, East Iberville School Band Room and White Castle, LA
June 5 at 10:00, Iberville Parish Library, Bayou Sorrell, LA
June 7 at 9:30, Mary Peyton Miracle Run, Abita Springs Trail Head, Abita Springs, LA
June 8 at 2:00, Terrebonne Parish Library, Houma, LA
June 9 at 2:00, Catahoula Parish Library, Sicily Island, LA
June 10 at 10:00 & 2:00, Catahoula Parish Library, Harrisonburg & Jonesville, LA
June 11 at 10:00 & 2:00, Webster Parish Library, Minden and Springhill, LA
June 17 at 10:00 & 2:00 Natchitoches Parish Library, Natchitoches, LA
June 18 at 2:00, Natchitoches Parish Library, Natchitoches, LA
June 19 at 10:00, St. Bernard Parish Library, Chalmette, LA
June 22 at 9:30, Castle Tree Camp, New Orleans, LA
June 22 at 1:30, Jimmy Club for Girls, St. Rose, LA
June 23 at 10:00 & 2:00, St. James Parish Library, Lutcher and Vacherie, LA
June 24 at 10:00 & 2:00, Winn Parish Library, Winnfield, LA
June 25 at 10:00 & 1:00, Bienville Parish Library, Arcadia & Ringgold, LA
June 26 at 10:00 & 1:00, Bienville Parish Library, Saline & Castor, LA
June 29, Vermillion Parish Library, Delcambre & Kaplan, LA
June 30, Cameron Parish Library, Cameron, LA
Dixieland Jazz For Children CD Reviewed on Punny Bop
We started out with Dixieland Jazz for Children by Johnette Downing and Jimmy LaRocca's Original Dixieland Jazz Band. You can buy it on CD or for just $9 in MP3 format - Amazon's MP3 page for the album has samples of every song. Z's favorite song on this CD by far is the first one, "Dixieland Jazz' - "Dixieland Jazz, Dixieland Jazz the best jazz in the land..." - the song then goes on to introduce all the different instruments in the standard Dixieland Jazz band. Other favorite songs from the album include "Throw Me Something Mister" - all about getting some beads and doubloons from a float in a Mardi Gras parade (I can't wait to take Z to a proper Mardi Gras parade), "I've Got Happy Feet" - which for some reason reminds me of that famous New Orleans con where the con bets the mark that he can tell you where you got your shoes. (The answer plays on the New Orleans' substitution of "you've" with "you," and it's whatever street you're standing on - if you're on Decatur, for example, it's "you got your shoes on Decatur right now.") But the song is really about dancing your way through New Orleans.
http://www.punnybop.com/
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Mailbox - Letters from Friends and Fans
We also read Chef Creole and created him. What's so amazing about this is that I let the students have free range to create him. We did not use templates. So, although each one looks almost the same, there are no two chefs alike in my room. The students worked hard, and loved creating him.
I have enclosed pictures of our work that I've put on display on a bulletin board in my classroom. Just like the title of the board says, you truly did inspire us!
Thank you,
Angie C
3rd grade teacher
Zachary Elementary School
Friday, May 1, 2009
Tour Dates - May 2009
May 2 at 12:45, Concert, Kids Tent, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Fairgrounds, New Orleans, LA
May 3, at 2:45 & 4:45, Children's Tent, Fest For All, Downtown Baton Rouge, LA
May 9 at 10:00, Concert, APPLE Parent Conference, Metairie, LA
May 11-15, Banners Series School Tour, Lake Charles, LA
May 16 at 10:00, Concert, Central Library, Lake Charles, LA
May 23 from 9:30-11:30, Book Signing, Sams Club, Harvey, LA
May 23 from 1:30-3:30, Book Signing, Sams Club, Metairie, LA
May 26 at 1:30, Covington Branch Library, Covington, LA
May 27 at 10:00, Causeway Branch Library, Covington, LA
May 28 at 1:30, Slidell Branch Library, Slidell, LA
Monday, April 27, 2009
Mailbox - Letters from Friends and Fans
-Leatherman Baby Blog
Mailbox - Letters from Friends and Fans
"My 6 year old was just slurping cereal singing…today is Monday, today is Monday…and I thought about you!"
Cheers!
LeAnne, parent, Mandeville, LA
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Reader Views: By Kids for Kids
This review appeared in Reader Views: By Kids for Kids
Reviewed by Grayce Richardson (age 5) for Reader Views (4/09):
“Chef Creole is a cook man. Oooh, boudin! I liked his nose. I want some of those ingredients and I
liked it when they said his name is Chef Creole, Creole, Creole. I think I would add to this book
pickles for his cheeks. He’s missing ears.”
Parent’s Note:
Grayce really enjoyed the repetition in this book and the idea of ingredients making the Chef’s face.
It’s nicely written with a New Orlean’s flavor and feel. At the end, I might suggest adding a recipe
from the Chef’s kitchen that a child could make. Overall, “Chef Creole” by Johnette Downing is a
fun book and one Grayce likes to read.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Just One
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Appetite for Culture: Food as Identity
Appetite for Culture: Food as Identity
Editor's Column from Louisiana Cultural Vistas, Spring 2009
http://www.leh.org/editorials/appetite_culture.html
Here in Louisiana while our cultural identity is characterized by our uniqueness, we inevitably begin to take it for granted and develop contempt for the familiar, sometimes to the point of succumbing to alien cultural influences, in other words Americanization. One of the most distinct markers of culture is cuisine, and with good reason Louisiana cuisine is widely bruited as the best and most distinctive in the country. Yet, with so extraordinary a cuisine native to our own state and family traditions (81 percent of Louisiana residents were born here), how does one account for the proliferation of McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Shoney’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut and other such American atrocities to good taste, which far outnumber the local gastronomic options?It wasn’t until my friend, the children’s musician and author Johnette Downing, was contracted to expand her book about Louisiana cuisine, Today is Monday in Louisiana, into a series featuring other states such as New York, North Carolina, and Texas that I fully realized how sadly limited are the rest of the states in having distinctly defined foods. Johnette’s book, written for children, is structured simply around assigning a distinctive food for each of the days of a week, commencing with the classic red beans and rice for Monday. For Louisiana, finding seven distinctive dishes is literally child’s play, because there is such a plethora of options that could be only specific to Louisiana and no other state. By way of illustration, here is a quick two dozen: jambalaya, blackened redfish, beignets, shrimp creole, crawfish pie, red beans and rice, chicory coffee, chicken etouffee, fried softshell crabs, ersters Rockefeller, ersters Bienville, pralines, roux, gumbo, crawfish bisque, barbeque shrimp, corn maque choux, calas, redfish courtbouillon, cochon de lait, boudin, alligator sausage, andouille, and tasso. Once one gets momentum, even more start to tumble from memory of great meals and common foods: po’boys, dirty rice, bananas foster, creole tomatoes, satsumas, Natchitoches meat pies, king cake, turtle soup, Tabasco sauce, alligator sauce piquant, café au lait, cracklins, creole cream cheese, mirlitons, not to mention all the inventive variations on a theme: crawfish etouffee, crawfish sacks, fried crawfish ... a week would hardly be enough to encompass a catalogue; we would need a month.
Identity Crisis
Trying to employ the same principle of selection — i.e. a food that was not only widely consumed in a particular state, but could not equally be claimed by another state — leads to an exercise in futility for any other state, even ones such as New York or North Carolina which are more populous and longer-settled. For New York, for example, a few items come quickly to mind: bagels, NY cheesecake, Manhattan clam chowder, pastrami, buffalo chicken wings, Long Island duckling (apparently now all raised in the Midwest as suburbia chewed up the chicken farms), but the list of dishes unique to New York quickly comes up short. The state fruit, the apple, is hardly unique to New York, any more than is wine or cheddar cheese, and while there is some debate as to the origin of pizza (Trenton, New Haven, and Chicago all seem to have competing claims), it is now so ubiquitous that the connection to New York seems tenuous at best. One could make a case for an occasional esoteric item such as “beef on weck” a roast beef on a caraway roll (kummelweck) sandwich unique to Buffalo, but virtually unheard of in the rest of the state. One consultant in all seriousness actually suggested Chinese take-out as an option, which only serves to illustrate the point about how limited is cuisine as a definer of culture in the five boroughs.
Regional versus Local
North Carolina serves as an interesting case of how regional influences supercede local identity. Surveying locals as to regional dishes one learned of a few truly esoteric dishes, some with good reason, such as “liver mush” — a concoction of pig’s liver and cornmeal highly touted in the town of Shelby. While there are a few other foods or culinary traditions that might be distinctive to the state, such as the scuppernong grape, and the Sunday “pig pickin’”, most of its other claims actually originate in other states: Brunswick stew, which hails from Virginia, and shrimp and grits, which originates in South Carolina. Of its other most common food markers — barbeque ribs, fried chicken, and pecan pie — all are clearly regional dishes common to virtually every southern state and not unique to North Carolina, any more than was the suggestion of one informant who proposed spaghetti and meat balls for the state’s list.The evidence of regional and nationalizing influence on cuisine and its encroachment on our own communities should both give us pause, and spur us to cherish even more fiercely our distinctive cuisine and its centrality in defining who we are. Louisiana may not lead the nation in many markers of civilization, but in cuisine we stand unchallenged.
—Michael Sartisky, Editor-In-Chief
Monday, April 6, 2009
Mailbox - Letters from Friends and Fans
-Leslie Domingues, Tots N Tunes, Northlake Academy of Music, Mandeville, LA
http://www.totsntunes.net/
Monday, March 30, 2009
Back in the Studio!
Updated Tour Dates - April 2009
April 5 from 3:00-5:00, Book Signing, Louisiana Food Festival, French Quarter, New Orleans, LA
April 9 from 7:00-9:00, Book Signing & Reading, Barnes & Noble, Metairie, LA
April 11 at 2:00, Concert and Book Signing, Southern Food & Beverage Museum, Riverwalk, New Orleans, LA
April 18 from 7:00-8:30 p.m., Book Signing, Barnes & Noble, Harvey, LA
April 19 at 3:15, Concert, Kids Stage, French Quarter Festival, New Orleans, LA
April 24 at 5:30, Concert, Grand Opening of Westside Regional Library, Alexandria, LA
April 25 at 10:00 and 11:00, Concert, Peyton Arts Festival, First United Methodist Church, Alexandria, LA
April 25 from 3:00-4:00, Book Signing, School Aids, Alexandria, LA
Plenty of Smiles and Giggles - Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud Review
-Michael Tisserand
author of Sugarcane Academy and The Kingdom of Zydeco
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Tour Dates - April 2009
April 11 at 2:00, Concert, Southern Food & Beverage Museum, Riverwalk, New Orleans, LA
April 18 from 7:00-8:30 p.m., Book Signing, Barnes & Noble, Harvey, LA
April 19 at 3:15, Concert, Kids Stage, French Quarter Festival, New Orleans, LA
April 25 at 10:00 and 11:00, Concert, Peyton Arts Festival, First United Methodist Church, Alexandria, LA
April 25 from 3:00-4:00, Book Signing, School Aids, Alexandria, LA
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Mailbox - Letters from Friends and Fans
Tour Schedule - March 2009
On Tour in the Middle East - Oman
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
More Praise for Upcoming Book!
"Snappy dialogue spiced up with French words and phrases make this jaunty story a sure-fire winner. Young readers will be delighted by this amusing, lively trickster tale that explains how the conniving Crawfish tries to fool Crab, but ends up digging himself into a hole. The cut-foam illustrations are colorful and lively. Facts about crawfish and a helpful glossary are appended. Johnette Downing, Louisiana’s popular children’s musician, has written and illustrated a charming book about critters that live in the bayous."
-Gale Criswell, former Children's Services Coordinator, Louisiana State Library
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Why The Crawfish Lives in the Mud - Advance Review
"Johnette Downing possesses an uncanny knack for engaging children and charming them with words and pictures or as a musician capturing and expressing the essence of musical styles and making them come alive and engage children. I have literally seen an entire auditorium sprout a sea of arms swaying to her musical summons. Her books are lively and original and speak "children" as if it were a language unto itself. Both her books and music teach without seeming to by invoking joy and cleverness."
-Dr. Michael Sartisky, President and Executive Director, Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities
Why The Crawfish Lives in the Mud - Review
Move over Anansi, the Spider!! You have competition from trickster Crawfish in a delightful story, visually appealing and rich in text, focusing on animal life in the Bayou between a crab and a crawfish. Crawfish Fun Facts add a nice touch for the reader to gain knowledge about crawfish.
- Nancy O'Connell, Children's Services Librarian, Schaumburg Library, IL
Chef Creole a Big Hit in Our Class.
Johnette,
Here is a picture drawn by one of our kids. Chef Creole is a big hit in our class, and is actually one of the few things that will come them down when they get wild in the room! The children break out into song periodically during centers, and the parents have even commented that they are hearing it at home.
Keep up the great work!
Holly Dalferes
Pre-K 3 - Forest Class
Isidore Newman School
Monday, February 23, 2009
Publishers Weekly
New Book Coming Out - Fall 2009
After Crab realizes Crawfish has made a fool of him again, he isn’t happy, and before he knows it, Crawfish gets exactly what he deserves. A charming tale cautioning children about the consequences of cheating your friends, this colorful picture book from the critically acclaimed Johnette Downing will delight readers of all ages with its timeless and gentle lesson about integrity.
Lively collage-style illustrations, a glossary of Cajun words and phrases, including entries such as “cher” (dear or friend) and “beaucoup” (much), and a list of crawfish “fun facts” make this book an irresistible read.
Johnette Downing is an award-winning, internationally recognized singer/songwriter who performs original children’s music inspired by her Louisiana heritage. Her many accolades include six Parents’ Choice Awards, three iParenting Media Awards, an Imagination Award, among others. She is the author of Pelican’s Chef Creole, Down in Louisiana, Today Is Monday in Louisiana, and My Aunt Came Back from Louisiane, which she also illustrated.
North Carolina Tour A Big Success
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Happy Mardi Gras!
I hope to see all my North Carolina fans at the shows! See my schedule below.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
The Advocate Review
By CHERAMIE SONNIER, Food writer
The Advocate
Published: Jan 29, 2009
More publishers have started offering easy-to-read books with a food theme for young children.Pelican Publishing Co., of Gretna, has two new, colorful, fiction picture books with Louisiana food themes that small children will enjoy. Each costs $15.95.“The Cajun Cornbread Boy” by Dianne de Las Casas and illustrated by Marita Gentry, is an adaption of “The Gingerbread Boy” folktale. The book is about an old Cajun woman who more than anything wants a child and decides to make a cornbread boy. She adds a big dash of cayenne pepper to the batter. The boy runs away and soon has encounters with a raccoon, a fox and an alligator. The story has a surprise ending, and the book closes with a recipe for Southern Cornbread. A glossary of French terms used in the book is included.
For the second book, “Chef Creole,” Louisiana singer and songwriter Johnette Downing has adapted a traditional song, “Aiken Drum.” The book is illustrated by Deborah Ousley Kadair. Chef Creole is a man from New Orleans whose hair is made of rice, his eyes of red beans, his nose of okra, and his mouth, a praline. He plays upon a ladle and sings of Louisiana food. The book includes a glossary of the Louisiana foods mentioned in the “Chef Creole” song, and it ends with the written music.
Tour Schedule - February 2009
February 14 at 8:30, Educator Workshop, Cape Fear AEYC, Castle Hayne, NC
February 14 at 12:00, Keynote Speaker and Educator Workshop, Cape Fear AEYC, Castle Hayne, NC
February 14 at 4:00, New Hanover County Public Library, Wilmington, NC
February 19 at 3:00 & 7:00, High Point Library, High Point, NC
February 25 from 10:00-2:00, Book Signing, Hudson News Store, New Orleans International Airport, Kenner, LA
February 28, Middle East Performance Tour, Oman
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Music Monthly - January 2009
The New Year is always a great time to set goals, make a plan of action and accomplish something new. Consider making music one of your goals for 2009. Here are some suggestions:
1) Attend at least one live concert per month.
2) Tithe a percentage of your income to a music school, group or organization.
3) Create a weekly or monthly family music night.
4) Learn to play a musical instrument.
5) Practice playing a musical instrument once a day, week or month.
6) Support local radio programs, record stores, musicians and music venues.
7) Attend music festivals regularly.
8) Buy season tickets to the opera, symphony or a concert series.
9) Enroll your child in weekly music classes.
10) Support musicians by purchasing or downloading original copies of their work instead of sharing unauthorized burned copies of their music.
11) Sing in the shower, in the car and in and around your home every day.
12) Expand your musical horizons by exploring various genres of music each month.
13) Share the gift of music with your children.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Johnette Downing Knows Kids
By The Independent Staff
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
FOR THE KIDS
Johnette Downing knows kids, and she knows what they like. For 13 years she taught kids music at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans. As a musician and songwriter, she’s produced seven CDs of original children’s music, and she’s also the author of four children’s books, all of which focus on Louisiana’s culture. In her book My Aunt Came Back from Louisiane, Downing adapts a traditional tune and takes young readers on a rhyming tour of Louisiana’s traditions throughout the state, with stops in Lafayette, Mamou and Evangeline. My Aunt Came Back from Louisiane retails for $15.95 and is available locally at Barnes & Noble. For more info, visit http://www.johnettedowning.com/. — R. Reese Fuller
Thanks Reese! You know books!!!