Product Review:  “Reading Rocks!” CD by Johnette Downing (Ages 2-8)

Music and Books for Children!  Our November 20, 2012!

This is probably TMI, but I hold a very special place in my heart for New Orleans.  It was on a spectacular trip back from The Big Easy (and a long drive back to Texas) that we decided if we had the good fortune of having a child and it was a girl, we would name her Brooke.  Brooke was conceived a little over a month later.  I don’t know if it was the magic of the French Quarter, the somberness of a post-Katrina and Rita Ward 9 or the simple beauty of being on a paddle boat on a river (remember, I grew up around sternwheelers and two rivers) that made life seem short and knowing that I wanted to start a family with the one I loved and had shared almost half my life with in some form and fashion happened there.  Sure, we had been rocked by a huge move to Texas followed up by my husband’s big blow of a layoff two years later, but one year later we were somehow stronger and more at peace with things life would throw our way.  We did not have a lot, but we had each other and that was all that mattered in that moment with a decision that had been building for months.  We wanted to be awesome and inspiring parents, but could we be everything we wanted to be as parents to a new person?  It was always a question left unanswered that held us back.  Thank goodness we decided we could be good parents on that drive back to Texas, because having Brooke came very easy for us once we tried and it hasn’t been that way since, so we feel so fortunate for her!  While my love of music and reading draws me to this new album by the famed (and multi-award winning) children’s author and performer, Johnette Downing, it is her life and love of New Orleans and child-centric entertainment that makes her so special.

Johnette Downing’s latest album, Reading Rocks! is her first album to combine spoken word from five of her well-received children’s books to her award-winning music.  Johnette, a Louisiana native who says she brings a little “Louisiana spice” to her worldwide concerts has created a very lively and educational album that ties in reading (including her new book Why the Possum Has a Large Grin) with bluegrass and rock and even a little Caribbean beat.  I love Johnette’s simple but profound message that, “If you want your child to read, read.”  Amen!  You can’t get more close to that message than through an album called Reading Rocks! and I certainly think many parents will get interested in Johnette’s twelve published children’s books all available for sale through her website.  Songwriting and children’s books do go together and thank you, Johnette, for putting them both together in this danceable and educational record with your ever-present Louisiana flair!

Track Listing:

1.     Reading Rocks! 2:15
2.     Open a Book Finger Play :10
3.     Today is Monday in Kentucky 3:23
4.     Why the Oyster Has the Pearl 6:48
5.     Oyster Limerick :18
6.     READ 1:38
7.     Story Time 3:21
8.     The Colors of the Sky 2:56
9.     Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud 6:47
10.     Reach Every Achievement Desired :55
11.     There Once Was a Boy Named Cary 2:34
12.     Read to Me 4:07
13.     Principal’s Desk :19
14.     Why the Possum Lives in the Mud 6:02
15.     Readers are Leaders 1:57
16.     Today is Monday in New York 3:12
17.     Do-do (Sleep) My Child 2:38

Check out Johnette’s Books! Johnette has books for purchase on her online store here including some really great books that are Louisiana-inspired.  For my Texas readers, check out her book Today is Monday in Texas which features some of the Lone Star State’s favorite foods.

“Reading Rocks!” CD by Johnette Downing (Ages 2-8)

www.johnettedowning.com

List Price:  $ 15.00