Press Copy of My Parrain is the Loup Garou is in!

I received the press copy of my new book My Parrian Is the Loup Garou, and it looks so good! Heather Stanley’s bold illustrations really set the swampy mood for this original Cajun tall tale about a boy and his Godfather as they go on wild adventures together, perhaps too good to be true. Books should be in by mid-September, and will be available in time for my book signings for the book launch as follows:

Saturday, October 7, 2023

• 11:00 AM 12:30 PM

• Blue Cypress Books, 8123 Oak Street, New Orleans, LA, 70118

Saturday, October 14, 2023

11:00 AM 12:30 PM

• Garden District Books, 2727 Prytania Street, New Orleans, LA, 70130

Saturday, October 28, 2023

• Time TBA

• Louisiana Book Festival, State Library of Louisiana, 701 North 4th Street, Baton Rouge, LA, 70802

You can also pre-order copies on my website , through Amazon, or through the two bookstores listed above.

I hope to see you there!

My Parrain is the Loup Garou Book Cover Reveal!

South Louisiana folktales are as unique as they are colorful and Johnette Downing, with expressive illustrations by Heather Stanley, crafts a tale of the loup garou in a delightful way that children of all ages will enjoy. 

-Cheré Dastugue Coen, Food & travel writer, and author of Exploring Cajun Country

I have a new book coming out this fall with illustrator Heather Stanley through Pelican Publishing, and as promised, I am revealing the cover to you, my subscribers, first! Heather and I have two other books together (Petit Pierre and the Floating Marsh and Mademoiselle Grands Doigts), and in this book, she really captured the boldness and wildness of my Cajun tall tale My Parrain is the Loup Garou.

This familial love story between a child and his godfather is my original Cajun tall tale, and it is peppered with exaggerated colloquial vernacular to create humor and warmth especially when read aloud. Like children on the playground, the child boasts to the reader about his Parrain’s superhuman strength and wolf-like qualities as proof that the godfather is in fact the legendary mythical creature, the Loup Garou. As playmates, the child and the Parrain set out on magical adventures, perhaps too good to be true. The vivid colors and bold brush strokes in Heather Stanley’s illustrations set a swampy tone and blur the lines between fact and fantasy. This lighthearted twist to the often dark oral traditions of the Cajun werewolf are sure to make children laugh, and hopefully wildly dream. 

The book will be released in fall 2023, and there are already two events scheduled:

Saturday, October 7 at 11:00-1:00, Blue Cypress Books, 8123 Oak St, New Orleans, LA

Saturday, October 28, Time TBA, Louisiana Book Festival, State Library of Louisiana, downtown Baton Rouge, LA

Pre-order your copy today for a fall 2023 delivery at

Barnes & Noble

Amazon

Johnette Downing

Or contact retailers@arcadiapublishing.com

Louisiana Book Festival Returns!

Book lovers rejoice! I am tickled to announce that the Louisiana Book Festival will take place on October 30, 2021 at the State Library of Louisiana in downtown Baton Rouge, and I will be a featured author with two of my books, Bonfires on the Levee, A Louisiana Christmas Tradition and my upcoming board book Five Little Possums! The book festival is among my favorite festivals in Louisiana, and believe me, we have a ton of festivals! From more information about all of the events and signings that will take place, visit www.louisianabookfestival.org .

New Year, New Book, New Program!

New Year, New Book, New Program.

2021 is finally here, and with it the hope of better things to come. January is my power month because it is my birthday month, and the time of year I feel the most energized and focused. On January 1st, I write my goals and mantras, get organized, and make plans for creative projects and adventures for the year. Since we may be home for at least half of this year, I have decided to take online Spanish and ukulele classes. If I can come out of this year speaking Spanish and playing ukulele more fluently, the time will have been well spent. What are your plans this year? What are your mantras? It is a great time to set some goals and make a plan for a joyful year ahead. Here's to a new year, to bright beginnings, and to making children smile. 

New Book!

Last week, I signed a contract with Pelican Publishing for a new board book titled Five Little Possums that I illustrated, and adapted from the song “Five Little Monkeys Swinging from a Tree.” I illustrated the book with felt collage because I like the soft quality of the material for a baby book. The resulting images make the possums warm and cuddly even if they are little bullies at first in the story. Find out what happens to possums who tease an alligator in this “singable” story for little ones. Here is a sneak peek at one of the feisty possums.
The song for this book is on my “Silly Sing Along” CD. Listen here!

This school year, join me “in my living room” as I offer two types of "Boogie on the Bayou" virtual programs; 1) pre-recorded, and 2) virtual live. 

I will sing several of my popular songs, sing select “singable” books, and talk about my passion for sharing Louisiana culture with children in the United States and abroad. Both virtual programs are perfectly suited for distance learning for pre-kindergarten to third grade audiences, and run approximately 30 minutes each. Some of the songs featured in the program are from my "Swamp Romp" album, illustrated by Heather Stanley. 

The pre-recorded program is available on my private viewing platform. 

The virtual live (real-time) face-to-face program is available on Zoom and is limited to 99 participants.

Theme: Louisiana culture

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Celebrate Mardi Gras!

It is king cake season in New Orleans in celebration of Mardi Gras on February 17, 2021! This year, Mardi Gras is officially cancelled, but king cake is not. Find out who got the baby in the king cake in this Carnival book. It just might be YOU! 

Keep Reading

Buy the Tune!

Memories

Yes, that is Chef John Folse and me when I performed on his television cooking show in 2013 on Louisiana Public Broadcasting in Baton Rouge. He was making a gumbo that day, and asked that I sing my songs "Gumbo Pot" and "Today is Monday in Louisiana." After the live taping, we sat down together to share a bowl of gumbo with his staff and invited guests. It is a great memory with a Louisiana treasure!

Thank you for letting me share joy with your children! - Johnette

New Board Book Contract Signed!

Yesterday, I signed a contract with Pelican Publishing for a new board book titled Five Little Possums that I illustrated, and adapted from the song “Five Little Monkeys Swinging from a Tree.”. I decided to illustrate the book with felt because I like the soft quality of the material for a baby book. The resulting images make the possums warm and cuddling even if they are little bullies at first in the story. Find out what happens to possums who tease an alligator in this “singable” story for little ones. The song for this book is on my “Silly Sing Along” CD. Listen here!