Confetti Park is a community radio program out of New Orleans. We feature local storytellers and songs that kids love, songs created for kids, or created by kids, right here in Louisiana.
This medley of kids music shows the diversity of Louisiana musicians.
Songs featured in this episode, in order:
Sally Brown – Valparaiso Men’s Chorus
Louis Lafitte – Confetti Park Players
Drunken Sailor – Jeremy Lyons IN-STUDIO PERFORMANCE
Layla Isis Ellison is half of the brother-sister duo Jason & Layla, who write and perform original children’s music. While Layla lives in New York City, where she is a professional dancer, she regularly returns to her home state of Louisiana to perform onstage at children’s festivals. Here, she shares with us a music memory from her own Baton Rouge childhood.
In this episode of Confetti Park, children’s author Tommie Townsley of Lake Charles, Louisiana narrates the story of Amos the Artistic Alligator.
Set in the Atchafalaya swamp, this is the tale of how Amos the alligator tries to outsmart old Mr. Homer, a Cajun trapper, who is looking for the perfect alligator to be placed in the zoo. But Amos and his friends create something that most alligators would never think of, and the surprise adds a cute twist to the story.
Tommie Townsley was born in Sulphur, Louisiana and now lives in Lake Charles. She is Cajun and has written numerous children’s books about Cajun life, many of them about animals.
This narration of Amos the Artistic Alligator is shared here with permission from Tommie Townsley. The book, illustrated by Anne Dentler, is available for purchase on Amazon and at http://kidscajuntales.com/
Tommie is the chairperson of the Southwest Louisiana Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Guild and publisher of Ally-Gator BookBites Publishing House in Lake Charles. Learn about Tommie Townsley and check out her books at http://kidscajuntales.com/
Spring reviews for The Little Mouse Santi are trickling in. We love this one from Midwest Book Review‘s “Children’s Bookwatch” May 2015 issue:
The Little Mouse Santi is an extraordinarily entertaining read and would prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library picture book collections for young readers.” Read more
And there is this very thoughtful review from The Dorky Daddy, who wants more Santi! “I really did enjoy it. If I had a critique it’s that I liked it enough that I wanted more from it.”We understand, Dorky Daddy! Read more
Confetti Park is a community radio program out of New Orleans. We feature local storytellers and songs that kids love, songs created for kids, or created by kids, right here in Louisiana.
This medley of kids music shows the diversity of Louisiana musicians. Songs featured in this episode, in order:
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands – Cynthia Girtley
Award-winning Louisiana children’s musician and author Johnette Downing shares with Confetti Park this marvelous trickster tale about generosity.
A long time ago, the Oyster was not only generous and kind; he was also the keeper of all the gems in the world. Whenever any type of creature would come to him in need, the Oyster would share his jewels without hesitation. One day, a very greedy snake hatches a plan to shift the balance of wealth in the sea. But he’s in for a surprise when he tests the limits of the Oyster’s generosity.
In this episode of Confetti Park, Katy Ray interviews Johnette Downing, award-winning children’s musician and author. Through her books and songs, Johnette shares Louisiana culture with kids around the world.
Johnette will be appearing at Jazz Fest this year; it is her 23rd year at the fest! You can see her at the kids tent on Sunday, May 3, 2015, at 12:40-1:40 p.m. Calendar
(She also performs at the New Orleans Jazz Historical National Park Visitor’s Center at 11 a.m. on May 1.)
In this interview Johnette discusses how she came to play children’s music, and how the jazz sounds of New Orleans inspired her as a child. As an adult, she got to record a CD of children’s songs with Jimmy LaRocca’s Original Dixieland Jazz Band, which she considers one of her crowing achievements.
She also discusses the importance of parents enjoying music and dancing with their children. Jazz Fest is great for that!!!
Confetti Park is a community radio program out of New Orleans. We feature local storytellers and songs that kids love, songs created for kids, or created by kids, right here in Louisiana.
This medley of kids music shows the diversity of Louisiana musicians. Songs featured in this episode, in order:
Confetti Park – Confetti Park Players
Okra Man – Mr. Okra & Confetti Park Players
Playing Possum – Johnette Downing
Itsy Bitsy Spider – Jeremy Lyons
Days of the Week – Jason & Layla
Ol’ Blue – Jimmy Cousins
Aveine, Aveine – Renaissance Cadienne
Buttermilk Drop – Confetti Park Players
Zydeco Gris Gris Rap – Michael Doucet
Evangeline – Feufollet
When I See an Elephant Fly – Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes.
New Orleans author David Eugene Ray narrates his adorable story The Little Mouse Santi, which received a Kirkus star.
The little mouse Santi may be small, but he has a big dream. This beautifully illustrated story explores one of the most important aspects of a child’s life, the search for identity. Santi wants to be a cat, and even though all the other mice laugh at him, he follows his dream. This timeless story ends with a whimsical twist: Santi learns a valuable lesson about self-determination and also learns he is not the only dreamer!
The gentle and lovely illustrations in The Little Mouse Santi, by Santiago Germano, are not to be missed! Order the book at https://confettipark.com/santi/ or at Amazon.
BONUS: This podcast concludes with a song called “Dream Big, Little Santi” composed by David Ray and Katy Hobgood Ray.
A kid-friendly podcast called “Confetti Park” debuted this month on iTunes, delivering children’s songs, stories, and kid culture from Louisiana to the world.
Podcast episodes, free for download, feature weekly story time narrated by Louisiana authors. There are also lagniappe episodes featuring skits, music medleys, and studio performances by Louisiana musicians, all geared toward children. The podcast is available on iTunes at http://bitly.com/confettiparkpodcast or at https://confettipark.com.
“A lot of ‘kid music’ is adults singing down to kids,” said host Katy Hobgood Ray, a Louisiana musician who created the show for New Orleans radio. “But in Louisiana, music permeates the fabric of our daily lives and is naturally kids music—danceable and full of whimsy and fun. I hope, through Confetti Park, to show that kids music can be really good.”
Ray travels the state to collect children’s stories, folklore, and childhood reflections for the show, which airs every Saturday in New Orleans at 12:30 p.m. on WHIV-FM 102.3. She directs a children’s choir in New Orleans called the Confetti Park Players, who play an integral part in the soundscape of the program.
“I hope our stories and music appeal to people everywhere,” says Ray. “There is magic in Louisiana that transcends age and place.”
ABOUT CONFETTI PARK Confetti Park is a children’s media workshop in New Orleans. We create books, mobile apps, music, videos, and special events geared toward celebrating and growing the wonder and magic of childhood. For more information, visit https://confettipark.com
ABOUT THE HOST
Katy Hobgood Ray works in communications at Tulane University. She has a master’s degree in musicology from Tulane and is a former content producer and host for Red River Radio, an NPR-affiliated public radio network in north Louisiana.
Confetti Park is a community radio program out of New Orleans. We feature local storytellers and songs that kids love, songs created for kids, or created by kids, right here in Louisiana.
This medley of kids music shows the diversity of Louisiana musicians. Songs featured in this episode, in order:
This Little Light of Mine – Ingrid Lucia
Wake-Y-Up-O – Kevin Griffin
“A Peanut Sat on a Railroad Track” – Confetti Park Players
Spoonbread – Lil Band of Gold
Noce A Josephine – Renaissance Cadienne
Puddin Man – Ph Fred
She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain – Jeremy Lyons
ABC et 123 – Michael Doucet and Family
Musique a Bouce – Renaissance Cadienne ftg. Beth Patterson
“Apple on a Stick” – Confetti Park Players
Zipa Dee Do Da – Ivan Neville’s Dumpstafunk
