Johnette Downing

Irma Thomas is a beloved New Orleans icon with a career that now spans sixty years. Her self-penned "Wish Someone Would Care" was a national hit in 1964, though she did not win her first Grammy until 2007 for her post-Hurricane Katrina album, After the Rain. A contemporary of artists like Aretha Franklin and Etta James, she followed a different path to fame and acclaim. The course of Irma Thomas’s music career at first seems improbable. Born Irma Lee in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, her early years were spent shuttling between New Orleans and rural Greensburg. She showed early promise as an entertainer and singer, but her education was cut short when she became pregnant at the age of fourteen. By the time she was twenty, she had four children. She began recording while in her late teens, scoring a hit with the risqué "Don’t Mess with My Man," and subsequently working with producer/songwriter Allen Toussaint. Her biggest hits were recorded in Los Angeles, where she briefly moved in the early 1970s. Upon returning to New Orleans, she was caught in the wave of the discovery of New Orleans rhythm and blues by the world at large, and became a fixture at the annual Jazz and Heritage Festival. Scott Billington, who was Thomas’s producer for over twenty years including when she won her Grammy, and Johnette Downing combine diligent research with an insider’s connection to Thomas’s story. The authors tell the story of both the person and the broader world of New Orleans music, as it evolved along with this treasured music legend.

Irma Thomas is a beloved New Orleans icon with a career that now spans sixty years. Her self-penned "Wish Someone Would Care" was a national hit in 1964, though she did not win her first Grammy until 2007 for her post-Hurricane Katrina album, After the Rain. A contemporary of artists like Aretha Franklin and Etta James, she followed a different path to fame and acclaim. The course of Irma Thomas’s music career at first seems improbable. Born Irma Lee in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, her early years were spent shuttling between New Orleans and rural Greensburg. She showed early promise as an entertainer and singer, but her education was cut short when she became pregnant at the age of fourteen. By the time she was twenty, she had four children. She began recording while in her late teens, scoring a hit with the risqué "Don’t Mess with My Man," and subsequently working with producer/songwriter Allen Toussaint. Her biggest hits were recorded in Los Angeles, where she briefly moved in the early 1970s. Upon returning to New Orleans, she was caught in the wave of the discovery of New Orleans rhythm and blues by the world at large, and became a fixture at the annual Jazz and Heritage Festival. Scott Billington, who was Thomas’s producer for over twenty years including when she won her Grammy, and Johnette Downing combine diligent research with an insider’s connection to Thomas’s story. The authors tell the story of both the person and the broader world of New Orleans music, as it evolved along with this treasured music legend.

Meet the amazing animals of New England From the adorable ant to the zany zebra swallow-tail butterfly, the lucky lobster to the talkative turkey, the jaunty jellyfish to the majestic moose--there are so many curious, courageous, captivating creatures to see New England's animals--big and small, from land and sea--are celebrated with fanciful, alliterative text and exquisite cut-paper illustrations. This is a perfect read-along with any little animal lover, who will love learning about the animals and the alphabet.

Petit Pierre has made a home for himself on the coast where Louisiana meets Mississippi, and now it is time for him to learn how to plunge-dive. Brown pelicans typically pick up this behavior by watching others do it. Will a new friend help Pierre learn how to dive? Young readers will follow his progress and, along the way, find out more about Gulf of Mexico marine life.

Based on a song from author and illustrator Johnette Downing's album Boogie Woogie Bugs, the singsong rhyming text introduces babies and youngsters to the wonderful world of bugs.Illustrated with Johnette's bold, bright foam and paper collages, the bugs seem to hop, skip, fly, and jump right off the board book pages and into the hearts of little listeners in this entertaining and educational counting adventure

This original Cajun tall tale is a familial love story between a child and his godfather. Like children on the playground, the child boasts to the reader about his parrain's superhuman strength and wolflike 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. This lighthearted twist to the often dark oral traditions of the Cajun werewolf is sure to make children laugh and, hopefully, wildly dream

Believed to have originated in twelfth-century France, the king cake tradition is an homage to the wise men (three kings). In New Orleans, as in Europe, a charm or plastic baby is hidden inside the cake and whoever finds the treasure is crowned king or queen for the day. The unofficial regent is also expected to host the next king cake party--or at least provide the cake So, of course, everyone asks Who got the baby in the king cake? Downing's hand-cut colorful collage illustrations accompany her original song in this joyous story designed to entertain and educate kids of all ages. The full song, and many others celebrating her Louisiana home, can be found on her album Swamp Romp: A Louisiana Dance Party for Children.

A curse is no match for a generous heart. Once upon a time on New Year's Eve night, hundreds of suitors lined up to kiss the graceful hands of Mademoiselle Grands Doigts. Jealous of the lovely maiden, the other girls cast a terrible gris gris turning her into a creature with long gnarled fingers and warts. Ashamed, she vanished, never to be seen again. The resentful girls turned as green as their hearts and fled to the swamp. Now, every New Year's Eve, Mademoiselle Grands Doigts finds nice children and fills their shoes with treats proving pretty is as pretty does. Johnette Downing deftly weaves this slightly scary Cajun morality tale accompanied by the moody colors of Heather Stanley's luscious illustrations.

"In Lindsley's vigorously brushed rural scenes, the comically gesticulating red rooster often occupies the foreground as, behind, a multiracial procession of revelers in colorful festival costume goes from farm to farm begging for a handout."-Kirkus With her trademark lyricism, Louisiana musician and author Johnette Downing draws readers through an Acadian landscape. This brand-new tale introduces a cagey rooster who vows not to be in the communal gumbo pot this Courir de Mardi Gras. Downing provides a glossary of traditional French-Cajun words used in the story and a delicious recipe for gumbo z'herbes . Award-winning musician and author Johnette Downing has performed on five continents. Her book Petit Pierre and the Floating Marsh represented the State of Louisiana in the Pavilion of States at the 2016 National Book Festival. A relative of Dennis (Denus) McGee, the Cajun musician whose grave is a traditional stop on the Courir de Mardi Gras, Jennifer Lindsley works with all ages, introducing them to the pleasures of creativity.

Gold/Honors Award Winner National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) Children's Products The Big Read 2010 Recommended Reading List for the National Coalition of Girls' Schools Based on a popular song adapted by the multi-award-winning New Orleans singer-songwriter Johnette Downing, Today Is Monday in Louisiana rhythmically takes readers through a culinary calendar, describing a Louisiana meal a day. Now adapted to board book format for tiny hands, each page presents collaged images of yummy foods. On Monday there are red beans to eat and on Tuesday, po' boys. On Wednesday gumbo is served, and on it goes, each day bringing another unique and tasty Louisiana dish to share.

What's in your po' boy? It takes a lot of skill to put together the perfect New Orleans-style po' boy. Talented children's author and musician Johnette Downing takes readers through step by step to create this classic meal, adding in a heaping dash of humor. From French bread and Blue-Plate mayonnaise to Creole tomatoes and debris, all delicious ingredients are included. This book is a tasty read for even the youngest child and a great laugh for adults of all ages!

Give a crab a crawfish, and he won't eat for the day! A long time ago, when Crab and Crawfish were still best friends, Crawfish was feeling particularly lazy--and particularly hungry-as he loafed around the muggy bayou. When Crab arrived with a fish, Crawfish took one listen to his empty belly and decided to trick his good-natured friend. After Crab realizes Crawfish has made a fool of him again, he isn't happy, and before he knows it, Crawfish gets exactly what he deserves. A charming tale cautioning children about the consequences of cheating your friends, this colorful picture book from the critically acclaimed Johnette Downing will delight readers of all ages with its timeless and gentle lesson about integrity.