Children's musician gets families moving at New Orleans JazChildren's musician gets families moving at New Orleans Jazz Fest


Published: Sunday, April 29, 2012, 1:04 PM     Updated: Sunday, April 29, 2012, 5:40 PM
  By Laura McKnight, The Times-Picayune 




At the New Orleans Jazz Fest on Sunday afternoon, a pint-sized rhythm section and wiggling sets of backup dancers helped children's entertainer Johnette Downing entertain in the Kids Tent. The youngest festival-goers kept the beat with miniature tambourines, maracas, shakers and sticks, rattling and clicking their instruments in time to tunes about crawfish, alligators, worms and werewolves. 

Parents joined their children in hopping across the dance floor like rabbits, snapping their hands like claws and smacking their arms together like hungry gators.
Downing, dubbed "Musical Ambassador to Children," warmed up a crowd of families with an upbeat set featuring fun parts of South Louisiana culture.
"Raise your hand if you like crawfish," Downing told the crowd Sunday afternoon. Tiny hands shot into the air.
The award-winning children's musician and author, accompanied by a harmonica player, performed songs influenced by zydeco, the blues, Cajun music and other signature sounds of her home state.
"Back it up, crawfish! Snap! Snap!" Downing sang as children and their parents shuffled backward and put their "claws" up.
"Who can shake their tail like a crawfish?" Downing asked.
Children and grownups responded by wiggling their behinds, doing the "Mudbug Boogie."
Later, a zydeco song got more families on the dance floor, with moms twirling daughters, dads spinning sons, brothers and sisters skipping to the cheerful beat, creating Jazz Fest memories.

Why the Possum Has a Large Grin Book Cover Sneak Peek!

WHY THE OYSTER HAS THE PEARL Activity Booklet

The Activity Booklet for my Why the Oyster Has the Pearl book is now available for a free download on my website at www.johnettedowning.com. Click on Book Activities and then click on Why the Oyster Has the Pearl.

Enjoy!

READING ROCKS! CD Cover

Here is a sneak peek at my READING ROCKS! CD cover.

READING ROCKS! CD

I just finished recording my 10th CD for children titled

READING ROCKS!

A rockin' singing story time gone fun, this CD will get children jazzed about reading! Slated for a Spring 2012 release.

The CD features my popular motivating literacy songs such as Reading Rock!, Story Time, Read to Me and READ, readings from several of my picture books such as WHY THE OYSTER HAS THE PEARL, WHY THE CRAWFISH LIVES IN THE MUD and WHY THE POSSUM HAS A LARGE GRIN, songs from several of my books such as TODAY IS MONDAY IN NEW YORK, TODAY IS MONDAY IN KENTUCKY and THE COLOR OF THE SKY, finger plays such as Open a Book and poems such as Oyster Limerick and Principal's Desk.

Seventeen tracks from Bluegrass to rock music feature such notable musicians such as Scott Billington on harmonica, Al Petteway on banjo and mandolin, Gina Forsyth on violin, Jake Eckert on electric guitar, bass and percussions, Tim Stambaugh on bass, Marc Dobriner on lead guitar and yours truly on rhythm guitar, mandolin, percussions and vocals.

Readers rejoice!!

HOW TO DRESS A PO'BOY

I just finished illustrating my 13th picture book with Pelican Publishing Company titled

HOW TO DRESS A PO'BOY!

From Blue Plate Mayonnaise to shrimp, you'll never be stumped when asked if you want your po'boy "dressed." The rhythmic book is slated for a Spring 2013 release. The song for the book will be on my upcoming THE KREWE OF KIDS CD as well as available as a download on my website.

The Monroe News Star reviews WHY THE OYSTER HAS THE PEARL

"Johnette Downing of New Orleans explains the origin of pearls in "Why the Oyster has the Pearl," illustrated by Bethanne Hill. In Downing's story, the oyster is the keeper of the world's jewels until sly snake comes along, a good lesson in greed and the virtues of generosity."

-Monroe News-Star

WHY THE OYSTER HAS THE PEARL Coloring Sheet

This coloring sheet is now online at www.johnettedowning.com . Click on Book Activities and then click on Why the Oyster Has the Pearl.

Today is Monday In Kentucky Book Cover Sneak Peek

Check out the book cover illustrated by Deborah Kadair for TODAY IS MONDAY IN KENTUCKY.

November 2011 Tour Schedule

November 4 at 11:00, Concert, New Orleans Jazz Park Visitors Center, New Orleans, LA
November 4 at 12:00-1:00, Book Signing, Tisket A Tasket Book Shop, Decatur, New Orleans, LA
November 5 from 10:00-12:00, Book Signing, Sam's Club, Kenner, LA
November 5 from 2:00-4:00, Book Signing, Sam's Club, Metairie, LA
November 11 at 1:00, Concert, Dularge Library, Dularge, LA
November 12 from 1-2, Book Reading/Signing, LeJouet, Metairie, LA
November 13 at 12:30 & 3:30, Concerts, Three Rivers Art Festival, Children's Stage, Downtown Covington, LA
November 16 from 1-2, Book Reading/Signing, Isidore Newman Book Fair, New Orleans, LA
November 19 at 10:00, Book Reading/Signing with Bethanne Hill for Oyster Book, Monty Stabler Gallery, Birmingham, AL
November 19 at 2:00, Concert/Book Signing, Avondale Library, Birmingham, AL
November 20-30, North Carolina

Why the Oyster Has the Pearl Reviewed in Acadiana Life

"In 'Why the Oyster Has the Pearl' we learn the oyster was Keeper of all the ocean's jewels, and gave some to whoever asked, but the greedy snake wanted them all, and in the end, got none while the oyster kept the pearl."

-Acadiana Life, "Gift Books Make Shopping Easy," November 2011

WHY THE OYSTER HAS THE PEARL Book is IN!

My latest book WHY THE OYSTER HAS THE PEARL is in! Purchase them online or in retail book stores!

You'll be a gem if you do!

Boogie Woogie Bugs on the preliminary Grammy Ballot

My latest CD titled BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGS is on the preliminary Grammy Ballot in the Children's Music category. I am crossing my fingers and toes to move up to the next level which is Nominee.

WWNO: New Book From Award-Winning Singer, Songwriter and Author Johnette Downing - "Why The Oyster Has The Pearl" (2011-10-12)

Here is the link to my radio interview with Fred Kasten on WWNO Radio with regard to the release of my latest book:

WWNO: New Book From Award-Winning Singer, Songwriter and Author Johnette Downing - "Why The Oyster Has The Pearl" (2011-10-12)

WHY THE POSSUM HAS A LARGE GRIN

Just signed and mailed my 12th children's book contract with Pelican Publishing Company for WHY THE POSSUM HAS A LARGE GRIN, slated for a Fall 2012 release. Christina Wald will be the illustrator!

Tour Dates - September 2011

September 9 at 11:00, Concert, New Orleans Historical Jazz Park, New Orleans, LA

September 9 at 12:00, Book Signing, A Tisket A Tasket Book Shop, New Orleans, LA

September 15-October 10, Concert and Workshop Tour, Indonesia and the Philippines

Mailbox - Letters from Fans and Friends

"My girls have grown up on your music & continue to do so. We discovered you while living in Mandeville for a year. We still sing, listen to, & laugh at your songs & we share them with as many other people as we can. Please know that you are huge blessing in our lives. Thanks for doing such a GREAT job. You truly do celebrate the joy of childhood through music. We have to check out your books now!"

-Kim Raymond

Today is Monday In Kentucky

Deborah Kadair just sent me two illustrated pages for our upcoming TODAY IS MONDAY IN KENTUCKY book! They are so sweet! The setting is a horse farm! Perfect for Kentucky, right????

Tour Dates - July 2011

July 1 at 11:00, Family Friendly Fridays Concert Series, National Jazz Park Visitors Center, 916 N St. Peter, New Orleans, LA
July 1 at 12:00-1:00, Book Signing, Tisket A Tasket Book Shop, Decatur, New Orleans, LA
July 7 at 10:00 & 2:00, Concerts, St. James Parish Library, Lutcher & Vacherie, LA
July 8 at 10:00 & 2:00, LaSalle Parish Libraries, Jena and Olla, LA
July 9 at 1:00, Book Signing and Reading, LeJouet Toy Store, Metairie, LA
July 16, Concert, Seabrook Library, Seabrook, TX
July 19 at 9:30, Castletree Camp, New Orleans, LA
July 19-31, Workshop Tour, Quepos, Coto, Perez Zeledon, San Carlos, Upala, Liberia and Santa Cruz, Costa Rica

ALA Conference in New Orleans

Had a great time signing books, seeing old friends, and meeting librarians, authors, editors, and publishers at the American Library Association Conference in New Orleans last week. I signed books on three days and met people and fans from all over North America and the Caribbean! Here is a photo some fans, Kim Bearden, a school librarian from Slidell, and on the right, Sarah Birney who is a school librarian in New Orleans. sent me from the Conference:

Thanks for the photo ladies!

Boredom Buster - Amazon Alphabet

Here is a great review for my AMAZON ALPHABET book from Grandmas Briefs - Books and Boredom Busters!!


Book: Amazon Alphabet by Johnette Downing. This colorful adventure takes kids of all ages from A to Z through the Amazon, introducing familiar folk such as frogs and jaguars, as well as the unfamiliar including the caiman and quetzal. Facts and features accompany each alphabetic selection.

Boredom buster: Zoo time! Many zoos have an Amazon Rainforest feature where kids can enjoy an A-to-Z scavenger hunt of things featured in the book. If your local zoo doesn't have such an exhibit, enjoy an A-to-Z hunt of other animals. If schedules, weather, or budgets nix a zoo visit, use the pictures in the book as inspiration for drawing Amazon animals for creating your own rainforest in your backyard or home.

http://www.grandmasbriefs.com/home/2011/5/26/5-books-and-boredom-busters.html

Another WHY THE OYSTER HAS THE PEARL Advance Review

Here is an advance review of my WHY THE OYSTER HAS THE PEARL book from a man who knows about oysters!!!

“Oysters have fascinated people for centuries with the many stories told about their existence. Johnette’s story has captured the allure of oysters in an imaginative way that will endure a lifetime…”


Al Sunseri, President, P & J Oyster Company, Inc.

WHY THE OYSTER HAS THE PEARL Book cover

Here is a sneak peek at the book cover for my upcoming book illustrated by Bethanne Hill of Birmingham, AL.

WHY THE OYSTER HAS THE PEARL Review

Here is the first review for my upcoming children's book WHY THE OYSTER HAS THE PEARL:

“Like a Greek myth, Johnette Downing’s charming tale highlights the dangers of greed and the rewards of generosity.” - George Rodrigue, Painter

Johnette Downing Performs on STEPPIN OUT, WYES TV

Here is the link to my performance on

Steppin' Out, WYES TV New Orleans, with Peggy Scott Laborde on April 29, 2011.

http://wyesondemand.org/SteppinOutNEW.shtml