Based on a popular song adapted by singer-songwriter Johnette Downing and illustrated by Deborah Ousley Kadair, the children's picture book Today is Monday in New York rhythmically takes young readers through a culinary calendar, describing a uniquely New York meal for each day of the week. On Monday there are upstate apples, on Wednesday there are Buffalo wings, on Saturday there is New York pizza, and so the story goes. Lucky children will also feast on culinary history with a Word Menu that explains each dish's significance to the state. Bright collage-style illustrations accompany this playful "singable" book.
Today is Monday in New York is part of a Today is Monday series by Downing and Kadair for Louisiana, Texas and Kentucky. The song for this book is on Downing's "Reading Rocks!" album for children here, and the accompanying book/music video will be on streaming services soon.
Mardi Gras Deux-O!
$35.00 Original Price:$40.00
It’s Carnival Season and time to throw your young ones some Mardi Gras READS! This two book set introduces children to two culinary centerpieces of Carnival; the king cake in Who Got the Baby in the King Cake?, and gumbo in Mumbo Jumbo, Stay Out of the Gumbo. This set also teaches children about the two types of Mardi Gras in Louisiana, the grandeur of floats, kings and queens in New Orleans, and the rural Courir de Mardi Gras in Cajun country.
Family Music Series Continues into 2024!
I am delighted to announce that my Free Family Music Series at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park will continue in 2024! Families, school groups and I have long enjoyed getting together once per month at the Visitor’s Center for a cultural immersion into the Louisiana music that is both entertaining and educational.
Join me on the first Thursday of each month (unless noted) from 11:00-11:45 AM at 916 N. Peters Street, in Dutch Alley in the French Market/French Quarter. There are paid parking lots near the venue, but the closest one is the River Lot behind Cafe du Monte.
Here are the dates:
January 4, February 1, March 14 (second Thursday), April 4, May 2, June 6, July 11 (second Thursday due to holiday), no show in August, September 5, October 3, November 7 and December 5, 2024.
My Parrain Is the Loup Garou Has Been Released!
My 30th book, My Parrain is the Loup Garou, illustrated by Heather Stanley, was released this fall among a flurry of book signing events and television interviews! The book makes a great holiday gift; therefore, feel free to check in with the following stores to see if signed copies are still available:
Blue Cypress Books on Oak St.
Garden District Books on Prytania St.
Barnes & Noble Metairie on Veterans Blvd.
Little Toy Shoppe on Decatur St
Cavalier Books in Denham Springs
Audubon Zoo Gift Shop on Magazine
Alice & Amelia Shop on Magazine St
Signed copies are also available on my website.
Arcadia Publishing is having a holiday sale on the book for a limited time!!!
The book is available through online retailers such as Amazon.
Photo of Heather and me is courtesy of @grantography_2023. Thanks Grant!
For Your Grammy Consideration in Best Children's Album and Best American Roots Performance!
Five Little Pumpkins Music Video Released!
Happy October!!! Based on a traditional song, featured on my "Jumpin' Jitters, It's Halloween" album, "Five Little Pumpkins" invites children to sing along as they watch the song gently come to life in this child-centered animated music video illustrated in cut-paper collage.
I hope you enjoy the video!
Visit www.johnettedowning.com to learn more about Johnette Downing, her music, books and programs.
(c) (p) 2023 Johnette Downing, Wiggle Worm Records, LLC, ASCAP. Performance, illustration and video by Johnette Downing. Animation by Scott Billington. Guitar and vocals by Johnette Downing and Violin by Gina Forsyth.
"Five Little Pumpkins" is on the "Jumpin' Jitters, It's Halloween" album.
Song administered by Concord Music Group. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized duplication without prior written consent prohibited.
Halloween Gift Set Available Here Only!
Get into the SPIRIT of Halloween with this spooktacular gift set available here only! Trick or treaters will enjoy listening to age-appropriate Halloween songs and reading two eerie books, both with a Louisiana twist!
“Jumpin’ Jitters, It’s Halloween” is a album for children of 14 slightly spooky, mostly silly traditional and original songs.
Spooky Second Line is a Halloween book set in New Orleans during a jazz funeral. The witch plays the drum, the ghost plays the sousaphone, the cat plays the trombone, and more as the band leads a parade to the cemetery for a joyful celebration. Get out your scarves to punctuate the jazz beat when read aloud!
The Fifolet is an eerie Cajun tale about the legendary ball of light in the swamp (also known as swamp gas). This Jack of Lantern, Will-Of-The-Wisp, story is perfect for campfires, sleepovers, and just plain spine-tingling anytime fun. A gentle lesson about greed, and an author’s note about the myth are included.
Mumbo Jumbo Has a New Cover!
Well, it was time for a reprint of my picture book Mumbo Jumbo, Stay Out of the Gumbo, illustrated by the amazing Jennifer Lindsley, and the publisher and art director (Pelican Publishing) thought it might be fun to give the cover more of a Mardi Gras feel. We also added the subtitle A Cajun Mardi Gras Tale, something I wished I had done before the first printing.
This book represented the State of Louisiana at the National Book Festival in Washington, D. C. in 2017, and Jennifer and I attended the event dressed in our Cajun Mardi Gras attire!
So, tah dah! Here is the new cover! The book is being printed as we speak and should be in stores in time for Mardi Gras season. You can preorder it now, and the books will be shipped when they arrive.
Happy very early Mardi Gras!
