Friday, March 22, 2013

Fan Mail

Thank you again for another great show - Kehoe-France loves you! Have to share this one...after nap today, I turned on Reading Rocks. One of the boys was listening to Today is Monday in New York, and he ran over to the speaker and yelled, "Ms. Johnette, you're singing the wrong foods. We're in Louisiana, so you have to sing Louisiana food!""

-Julie Malta, Covington, LA

How To Dress a Po' Boy Book Launch

Join me for the official book launch of Johnette Downing's 

How to Dress a Po'Boy

April 13, 2013

11:30-1:00 

Maple Street Book Shop
7529 Maple Street, New Orleans, LA 70118
504 861-2105


READING ROCKS! Wins a Gold Family Review Center Award!

Reading Rocks! is a musical CD for children that embraces the written stories and poetry of Johnette Downing and sets them to her music. A beautiful blend of music and a beautiful touch that every child and parent will love. - Family Review Center

www.familyreviewcenter.com

Fan Mail


Hello there, I wanted to say thank you so very much for making such 
beautiful, heartwarming REAL music for children and adults! It is so rare to 
find such an amazing artist as yourself to listen to with such joy!!! Oh, would you 
ever come to alberta canada? I know our folk festival would love you to bits!! 
thanks again!!! --sharon jong, canada

Thursday, March 21, 2013

READING ROCKS! Wins a Parents' Choice Recommended Award!


Reading Rocks by New Orleans-based musician and author, Johnette Downing, is sure to become a favorite of children's librarians everywhere.
Downing's tenth children's music album is a well-honed and creatively buoyant recording that hits all the right early reading bookmarks. Combining well-crafted songs, interspersed with stories and poems, Downing also arranges an old traditional tune with delightful results. "Today Is Monday in Kentucky" is a wonderful song about the days of the week that also praises southern cuisine. Towards the end of the album, she reprises the song as "Today Is Monday in New York," substituting sorghum and spoon bread with bagels and lox. The majority of the album features her original songs and stories, including the tale of "Why The Oyster Has the Pearl," followed by her delightful "Oyster Limerick."
Her literacy theme continues with the bluegrass swing of ""R.E.A.D," the Dylan-esque "Story Time," the country funk of "Read to Me," and bluesy "Readers Are Leaders." Other highlights include the pastoral "The Colors of the Sky," and the lovely lullaby "Do-do (Sleep) My Child." Original stories (supported by great musical backing) include "Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud, and "Why the Possum Has A Large Grim," both tales that are southern takes on Aesop's fables.
Downing has a beautiful, clear and present voice, plays terrific guitar and mandolin, and is backed by a group of stellar musicians including Al Petteway, Scott Billington and Jake Eckert, among others.
Lahri Bond   ©2013 Parents' Choice
Lahri Bond is a father, a writer, music historian and an art professor in Western Massachusetts. His published books include Spinning Tales Weaving Hope (with the Stories For World Change Network) for New Society Press and People of the Earth (coauthored with Ellen Evert Hopman) for Destiny Books.

Saturday, March 2, 2013

How to Dress A Po' Boy Book has arrived!

My 13th book with Pelican Publishing Company titled HOW TO DRESS A PO' BOY has arrived! Books may be ordered through www.pelicanpub.com or www.johnettedowning.com or www.amazon.com.

Yippee!