Sneak Peek at my Five Little Possums Board Book Cover!
MIXTAPE: MUSIC TO DRIVE YOUR KIDS AROUND (Without Driving Yourself Crazy)
I am happy to be part of this Spotify Mixtape on The Bluegrass Situation!
Johnette Downing – “J’ai Vu Le Loup, Le Renard Et La Belette”
Louisiana music is a popular Americana style in children’s music, probably because it so easily gets kids dancing. On her album Swamp Rock, the New Orleans musician Johnette Downing does a marvelous job presenting, and explaining, a variety of Louisiana-bred music and culture. This bilingual animal tale (“I Saw the Wolf, the Fox and the Weasel”) showcases two Cajun greats: fiddler Joel Savoy and accordionist Roddie Romero.
—MIXTAPE: MUSIC TO DRIVE YOUR KIDS AROUND (WITHOUT DRIVING YOURSELF CRAZY)
BY MICHAEL BERICK, The Bluegrass Situation
Feb 22, 2021
New Board Member - Canary Islanders Heritage Society of Louisiana!
Boogie on the Bayou Virtual Program!
Put on your shrimp boots and get ready for a little boogie on the bayou with me!
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
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
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!
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!
Louisiana Christmas Eve Tradition
Every year (except this year due to Covid), families and friends join together to build giant bonfires made of logs on top of the earthen levee along the Mississippi River in the River Parishes of Louisiana (St. James, St. John the Baptist, and St. Charles, as well as Ascension). Then on Christmas Eve at 7:00 PM, the bonfires are set ablaze to guide Papa Noel, the Cajun Santa Claus, as he makes his way down the river to deliver gifts to Louisiana children. Firework displays also light the sky to make the holiday event extra special.
Scott and I were invited to participate in this annual event by our friend Keri Walker Tramonte. She and the females in her family are a rare all-female bonfire builder group. We joined Keri and her family for pot-luck dinner and bonfire lighting. The experience will stay with Scott and me forever. In fact, I was so moved, that I wrote a picture book about it - Bonfires on the Levee, a Louisiana Christmas Tradition. I hope you enjoy this book trailer, and perhaps next year, you may head out to the River Parishes to enjoy the event with your family.
To celebrate this Louisiana tradition, I have created a two book gift set that celebrates Christmas Eve with the bonfires on the Mississippi River levee, and New Year’s Eve with the filling of treats in the shoes of good children by Mademoiselle Grands Doigts. But, wait, there’s more! For a limited time, this gift set comes with a free “Reading Rocks!” CD filled with readings of some of my other other books to create a bedtime story treat over two holidays! This two book set, with a free CD, is only $28 plus shipping, while supplies last. Order your gift set here!
Happy holidays from Louisiana!
-Johnette