More Praise for Upcoming Book!

Here is more praise for my upcoming book Why The Crawfish Lives in the Mud:

"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

Why The Crawfish Lives in the Mud - Advance Review

Here is another wonderful advance review for my upcoming book Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud:

"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

Here is another advance review for my upcoming book Why The Crawfish Lives in The Mud:

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.

Here is a letter I received from a teacher and friend at Isidore Newman School. I'll try to upload the image. It is just too cute.

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

Publishers Weekly

My upcoming book Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud has already gained the attention of Publishers Weekly. Here is the blurb they recently issued:

Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud by Johnette Downing, a southern-flavored fable. 

-Publishers Weekly, Fall 2009 Preview

New Book Coming Out - Fall 2009

I am thrilled to announce that I have a new book coming out this Fall 2009 titled Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud published by Pelican Publishing. I am the author and illustrator of this original trickster/origin tale. Here is more information about the book:

A long time ago, when Crab and Crawfish were still best friends, Crawfish was feeling particularly lazy––and particularly hungry—as he loafed around the muggy bayou. When Crab arrived with a fish, Crawfish took one listen to his empty belly and decided to trick his good-natured friend.

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

Today is my last day in North Carolina after a very successful tour here. My educator workshop and keynote at the Cape Fear AEYC Conference in Wilmington was so much fun. I met so many talented teachers who attended my workshop; so talented in fact that I asked them to participate in the keynote with me. I ended the keynote with a Second Line parade led by teacher who was a former New Orleans area resident. The Second Line was my tribute to Mardi Gras.  

During the conference, I met a very nice children's musician named David Kiser from Kentucky and we were able to have dinner together and talk about children's music. We were served the largest creme brule I have ever seen! Yummy!

After the conference, I sped over to the Wilmington Library for a standing-room-only crowd concert! Wow! Margaret, the children's librarian, and I were shocked at the attendance. They ran out of chairs. Unfortunately, we had microphone malfunctions, but at least my voice could be heard and the enthusiastic audience didn't seem to mind  or notice one bit! 

Next came my concerts at the High Point Library in High Point, NC. Jim, Abigail and the children's services staff are always a delight with which to work. Though the microphones were not working there either, we made the best of it and, again, the audience didn't seem to mind one bit. Go North Carolina fans!!

After High Point, I traveled to Asheville, NC for some rest and relaxation in the mountain home of a friend. It snowed three days while in the mountains and I was able to run outside in the freezing weather long enough to make and throw a few snowballs. Too much fun!

Now, I head back to New Orleans on Mardi Gras Day. I'll be home for only a few days before I head back on the road for a twenty day tour in the Middle East (Oman, Bahrain and UAE). Frequent flyers miles indeed!

Happy Mardi Gras!

Happy Mardi Gras friends and fans! I will miss it this year because I will be on tour in North Carolina, but I will be bringing Carnival with me wherever I go!

I hope to see all my North Carolina fans at the shows! See my schedule below.