Kirkus Reviews QR Code
MY AUNT CAME BACK FROM LOUISIANE by Johnette Downing

MY AUNT CAME BACK FROM LOUISIANE

by Johnette Downing & illustrated by Johnette Downing

Pub Date: Oct. 1st, 2008
ISBN: 978-1-58980-607-8
Publisher: Pelican

Acclaimed children’s musician Downing adapts and illustrates the traditional folk song “My Aunt Came Back,” giving it her signature Louisiana twist. In this version, the aunt brings back red beans from New Orleans, a French baguette from Lafayette, some crawfish stew from ’ti Mamou, a violin from Evangeline and more. Readers will become familiar with the names of various places in Louisiana as well as the foods and musical instruments those places are famous for. However, one might do better to pick up one of her infectious music CDs, such as From the Gumbo Pot, to learn about Louisiana culture from the musician at her very best. While this particular offering may well be a delightful song, the lyrics don’t read well on their own, and the collage-style illustrations, which consist of large, mostly unappealing images of food, are over-simple in style and humdrum in color. The “Word Map”—a description of the places referenced in the text and instructions on how to pronounce them—and the sheet music are useful additions. (Picture book/folk song. 3-6)