Jumpin' Jitters is a 2023 Family Choice Award Winner!!!

I just found out that my Jumpin’ Jitters, It’s Halloween album for children is a 2023 Family Choice Award winner! Thank you Family Choice Awards for this amazing honor! Here is the press release!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2023 FAMILY CHOICE AWARD WINNERS

Exceptional products that enrich a family’s lifestyle and create

memorable experiences.

Los Angeles, CA – Family Magazine Group is proud to announce the 28th annual Family Choice

Award Winners! As one the most coveted and family-friendly consumer award programs in the

nation; the Family Choice Awards recognize the finest products and services that enrich the

lifestyles of children and families.

Congratulations!

“Jumpin’ Jitters, It’s Halloween"

is a Winner of a 2023 Family Choice Award!

Here is the link to the winning product:

https://www.familychoiceawards.com/family-choice-awards-winners/jumpin-jitters-its-halloween/

The creativity and extraordinary imagination utilized to develop new products and enhance

existing products for the benefit of consumers, continues to amaze our distinguished judges and

staff. We want to express our gratitude to all the entrants for their sincere commitment in making

a positive impact on families.

The 2023 Family Choice Awards are presented in the following categories: Apparel, Accessories,

Adaptive Products, Apps, Audio Books, Babies and Parenting Products, Bikes and Scooters,

Books, CD’s, Children’s Products, Developmental/Sensory Products, DVD’s, Electronics, Family

Products, Furniture, House-wares and Home Décor, Jewelry, Movies, Music, New Technology,

Speech and Mobility Aids, Toys and Games, Video Games, Pet Products and Websites.

For complete information on each winner please visit www.FamilyChoiceAwards.com.

Spring Festivals Bloom!

Spring Festivals Bloom!

Spring is nearly here and it’s time to shake a tail feather at upcoming festivals!

Spring Public Concert Dates

• March 2 at 11:00, Concert, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, Dutch Alley, French Market

• March 11 at TBA - Concert and Book Signing, New Orleans Book Festival, Tulane University

• April 6 at 11:00, Concert, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, Dutch Alley, French Market

• April 16 at 12:15, Concert, French Quarter Festival, National Park Service Stage, French Quarter, New Orleans

• April 30 at TBA, Concert, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Kids Stage, New Orleans Fairgrounds

May

• May 4 at 11:00, Concert, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, Dutch Alley, French Market

Read More

New Book This Fall!

I am howling with happiness to announce that I have a new picture book coming out this fall titled My Parrain is the Loup Garou! The book is illustrated by Heather Stanley (we have three books together now), and published by Pelican Publishing.

This familial love story between a child and his godfather is my first 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—is sure to make children laugh and hopefully wildly dream.

Book cover reveal to follow!

Photo: Illustrator Heather Stanley and I sitting on an oil rig exhibit at the Audubon Zoo for some silly reason I am sure.

New Paperback!

My Down in Louisiana book, illustrated by Deborah Ousley Kadair Thomas, is now available in a paperback edition! This “singable” counting book highlights Louisiana animals and their habitats. The song is also available to download in my website digital music Store!

Buy Book

Music News

My Jumpin’ Jitters, It’s Halloween album was released digitally on streaming platforms in October, 2022, and, after several holiday delays, it is now at the manufacturer to be released as a physical CD this spring. The pre-orders will be shipped as soon as they arrive. The album contains fourteen original and traditional slightly spooky, mostly silly holiday songs.

Pre-Order CD

For some reason, I have always been good at finding four leaf clovers. I have dozens of them tucked away in my haiku notebooks because I typically carry a haiku notebook wherever I go. The trick is to look for the odd pattern in the patch, which in this case is the even number four! Four is the odd one out of the many threes. This spring, I hope you take time to enjoy the flowers, sink your toes into the grass, and be grateful that you are here to witness this one beautiful life. - Johnette

“A flower blooms for its own joy.” - Oscar Wilde

Jumpin' Jitters', It's Halloween Released TODAY!

Happy Halloween! No trick here, my Jumpin’ Jitters, It’s Halloween album is out TODAY on streaming platforms world wide and on my website! It was such a joy making this album of fourteen slightly spooky, mostly silly songs for children.

I want to thank Threadhead Cultural Foundation for the generous grant that partially funded the project. I would also like to thank co-producer Scott Billington, recording engineers Steve Reynolds, Jake Eckert and Naylan Williams, and mastering engineer Jeff Albert.

A monster cast of musicians created an eerie soundscape to make the album spine-tingling fun for the whole family. A deep bow to musicians C. R. Gruver, Scott Billington, Nathan Williams, Jake Eckert, Gina Forsyth, Lee Allen Zeno, Doug Belote, EJ Ouellette, and the Whole Music Student chorus.

I appreciate the teachers over the years who shared Halloween songs and chants with me to use in my classrooms and in my live shows. Many of those songs appear on the album such as “Mean Old Witch,” “Stirring My Brew,” and “Jack-O’-Lantern.” The album includes many original songs such as “Jumpin’ Jitters,” “Shake Your Skeletons,” “Goosebumps,” and “Little Bat Song,” among others.

I hope your Halloween is all treat and filled with song!

-Johnette

Jumpin' Jitters, It's Halloween Album to be released October 21!

It’s beginning to feel like Halloween, especially this Friday, October 21 when I release my new album Jumpin’ Jitters, It’s Halloween for children on streaming and digital platforms worldwide! These fourteen slightly spooky, mostly silly Halloween songs will have your bones rattling and your spine tingling. Fan favorite original songs such as “Shake Your Skeletons” and “Little Bat Song,” are paired nicely with traditional tunes such as “Five Little Pumpkins” and “Mean Old Witch.”

A stellar team of monster musicians such as C. R. Gruver on Hammond organ, Nathan Williams on accordion, Jake Eckert on lead guitar, Gina Forsyth on fiddle, Doug Belote on drums, Lee Allen Zeno on bass, EJ Ouellette on mandolin, Scott Billington on harmonica, and a Whole Music student chorus join me, on vocals, guitar and ukulele, to create an eerie soundscape for fall fun.

The digital album will be available on worldwide streaming platforms beginning on Friday, but because I always put my FANS FIRST, you can download the album NOW! Surprise!!! The physical CD will come out in a month or so!

I would like to thank Threadhead Cultural Foundation for the generous grant that partially funded this project.

I hope you enjoy the new album as much as I enjoyed making it!

Boo Carré on Saturday, October 15th!

It’s time to dress up in your favorite costumes and Spooky Second Line on down to the annual Boo Carré Halloween Haunt in the French Market! I will be performing songs from my new “Jumpin’ Jitters, It’s Halloween” album in the Dutch Alley outdoor Performance Pavilion, at 916 N Peters, New Orleans, between 11:15 and noon.

Children can also enjoy trick-or-treating at select French Market shops. Create a second line hankie at the Adorn Me Antoinette booth, and parade with me on the last song.

It’s an all day Halloween Haunt of music and merriment!

Spooky Hammond Organ sounds on Mean Old Witch!

My “Mean Old Witch” single has been released today!!! I wanted to take the time to give a shout out to C. R. Gruver for making the song super spooky with his Hammond Organ performance. C. R. is also a super sweet guy, and having him play on the album was more than a Halloween treat! Thanks C. R.!

Hear this monster of a musician on the tune!

Mean Old Witch Single to be Released on Fri, Oct 14!

I will be releasing the new single "Mean Old Witch" from my upcoming "Jumpin' Jitters" Halloween album for children on Friday, October 14! Stay tuned...if you dare!!! It will also be available for streaming on all streaming platforms!

#meanoldwitch #jumpinjitters #halloweensongs

Jumpin' Jitters - The Official Single Release Coming on October 22!

I am all jittery over the official release of my “Jumpin’ Jitters” single from my upcoming Halloween album for children by the same title. The song will be released on all streaming and music platforms on and around Friday, October 22! Not only that, but this marks the official album cover reveal which I illustrated with craft foam. I love working with foam because it creates vivid, soft illustrations.

I hope you and the children enjoy this energetic, non-spooky, and interactive song before and during Halloween, sure to help them jump, wiggle, and rattle their bones.