Johnette Downing

French Quarter Festival Performance!

Dance on over to the French Quarter Festival on Sunday, April 14, 2024 from 1:30-2:30, and join me for a Crescent City concert for children at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park at the 419 Decatur St location in the beautiful courtyard with plenty of dancing room for the whole family. Free!

WTUL Radio Kids Show 91.5FM

Tune to the WTUL Kids Show on WTUL 91.5 FM on Saturday, April 13 beginning at 9:00 AM where I will be an on-air guest singing some of my songs, reading some of my books and chatting with awesome DJ LizzE for the WTUL Marathon!


https://www.wtulneworleans.com/stream-wtul

Sneak Peek at the Cover for the New Book Petit Pierre and His Wild Adventure

Petit Pierre is back at it again, and so are Heather Stanley and I in this sequel book to Petit Pierre and the Floating Marsh. Here is the sneak peek at the book cover for Petit Pierre and His Wild Adventure. In this adventure, Petit Pierre must learn the vital life skill for pelicans—plunge diving. Will he make it? Find out this fall 2024 when the book is released by Pelican Publishing.

Jazz Fest Performance Date Announced!

It’s official! We will be performing in the Kid’s Tent at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Sunday, May 5, 2024! The time will be announced later. Get your tickets now, we will be happy to see you!

Today is Monday in New York is now in Paperback!

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.

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!