Louisiana Roots Music and Books for Children Performances & Workshops
New Orleans, LA 70185-3367
About
Louisiana Roots Music and Books for Children Performances & Workshops features Louisiana Roots concerts, author visits for children, keynotes for educators, workshops for educators, and haiku workshops. The program is led by Johnette Downing, who is a multi-award winning singer, musician, composer, author, illustrator, poet, haiku and senryu poet, and cofounder of the former New Orleans Haiku Society. She presents Louisiana Roots concerts and author visits for children and provides keynotes and workshops for educators globally.
• Ages: 3–12 years old
• Price: New Album Jumpin' Jitters, It's Halloween $9.99
Johnette Downing is called the “Musical Ambassador to Children” and the “Pied Piper of Louisiana Music Traditions.” Her work is described as serving up a gumbo of Louisiana roots music and books in a toe-tapping, two-stepping good time for children across the globe. She is dedicated to celebrating childhood, nurturing cultural exchanges and fostering literacy through her music and books.
Johnette Downing has garnered multiple awards including a 2017 Louisiana Writer Award, a 2026 Literary Arts & Humanities Award, a 59th Grammy Award Participant Certificate, eight Parents’ Choice Awards, four iParenting Media Awards, two Parent’s Guide To Children’s Media Awards, five National Parenting Publications Awards, a Family Choice Award, two Family Review Center Awards, a Fids and Kamily Award, a Family Review Center Gold Award, a Family Review Center Best of the Year Award, a DAR Literacy Promotion Award, and an Imagination Award. She has performed in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, Central America, North America and the Caribbean.
Testimonials describe the experience as “A truly Louisiana experience” and say “Downing is wowing audiences all over!” according to Carol Donahue of The Livingston News. Julie Kane, former Louisiana Poet Laureate, says, “Johnette thinks like a child, but writes like a magician.” Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says, “Johnette Downing has been an outstanding ambassador for Louisiana.” State Librarian Rebecca Hamilton says her commitment to sharing Louisiana’s traditions, music, and literature with children makes her “a state treasure.” Glenn Whipp of the Los Angeles Daily News says, “Your kids won’t be able to sit still or stop smiling.”
Last updated February 18, 2026.
• Ages: 3–12 years old
• Price: New Album Jumpin' Jitters, It's Halloween $9.99
Johnette Downing is called the “Musical Ambassador to Children” and the “Pied Piper of Louisiana Music Traditions.” Her work is described as serving up a gumbo of Louisiana roots music and books in a toe-tapping, two-stepping good time for children across the globe. She is dedicated to celebrating childhood, nurturing cultural exchanges and fostering literacy through her music and books.
Johnette Downing has garnered multiple awards including a 2017 Louisiana Writer Award, a 2026 Literary Arts & Humanities Award, a 59th Grammy Award Participant Certificate, eight Parents’ Choice Awards, four iParenting Media Awards, two Parent’s Guide To Children’s Media Awards, five National Parenting Publications Awards, a Family Choice Award, two Family Review Center Awards, a Fids and Kamily Award, a Family Review Center Gold Award, a Family Review Center Best of the Year Award, a DAR Literacy Promotion Award, and an Imagination Award. She has performed in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, Central America, North America and the Caribbean.
Testimonials describe the experience as “A truly Louisiana experience” and say “Downing is wowing audiences all over!” according to Carol Donahue of The Livingston News. Julie Kane, former Louisiana Poet Laureate, says, “Johnette thinks like a child, but writes like a magician.” Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says, “Johnette Downing has been an outstanding ambassador for Louisiana.” State Librarian Rebecca Hamilton says her commitment to sharing Louisiana’s traditions, music, and literature with children makes her “a state treasure.” Glenn Whipp of the Los Angeles Daily News says, “Your kids won’t be able to sit still or stop smiling.”
Last updated February 18, 2026.
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