Confetti Park

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: We’re Going to Confetti Park! – Confetti Park Players Best Friends – Zachary Richard Moving Along – Johnette Downing Be My Honey Bee – SchaztyBaby Bumblebee – Judy Caplan Ginsburgh When You’re Smiling – Jeremy Lyons Curious George Main Theme Song –  Dr. John Row Row Row Your Boat – Dr. John (Mac Rebennack with The Ends) Monsters – Jazzy Ash Also featured in this episode, a music memory from Dr. Sick and the storytime feature F Words – Fantastic by Ms. Chocolate, and poems from Louisiana kids!   The Confetti Park podcast and radio program, hosted by Katy Hobgood Ray, features music and stories spun in Louisiana. It showcases songs that kids love, songs created for kids, and songs created by kids. Sparkling interview

In this episode of Confetti Park, we hear a music  memory from Jeff Campbell, founder of Hungry for Music, a nonprofit organization distributes musical instruments to children in need. Jeff, originally from Shreveport, established Hungry for Music in 1994 in Washington D.C. Since then, the nonprofit has donated over 8,000 instruments to children in 27 states and 14 countries. Jeff was ten years old in 1972 when he attended his first concert—the Jackson 5. And while the music was powerful, the experience was made more so by a connection he forged with a woman in the audience. Jeff shares the memory: "My first concert was the Jackson 5 at Hirsch Coliseum in Shreveport. I remember…a black woman had the same ticket as me. So she said, 'You can sit in my lap.' She offered me gum, and it was just very nice. And knowing what I know about the racial division there, that was something very powerful. It had a really powerful effect on me. Not only the music, but the gesture she made toward me that has an impact today."

Foolish John is a literal-minded character who appears in American folk stories as a fool who always gets things right somehow. In Louisiana folk tales, he was called Jean Sotte, and he had many misadventures that resulted in happy outcomes despite all of his foolish interpretations of situations. A later year character who might have been inspired by the Foolish John stories is America Bedelia: “Everyone loves Amelia Bedelia, the literal-minded housekeeper! When she makes a sponge cake, she puts in real sponges. When she weeds the garden, she replants the weeds. And when she pitches a tent, she throws it into the woods!” In this Foolish John tale, which is narrated by Ted Lindsay of Mooringsport, Foolish John is sent by his mother to sell a cow hide. What does he do? He strings it up on a tree, like a sail blowing in the wind above the woods. The misadventure continues from there, leading to great riches for John.

“Follow me to the garden! Let’s check out the magic of nature!” Introducing Rosemary the Garden Fairy, a new contributor to Confetti Park! We found her flitting about our beautiful corner, and realized she had much wisdom to impart about the natural world. In this segment, Rosemary teaches us about air plants.   Have you ever heard of an air plant?  It can grow without any soil! The scientific name for air plants is “Tillandsia.” Lucky kids in Louisiana have seen one species of this plant called Spanish Moss, growing in our beautiful oak trees and throughout our swamps and bayous. There are over 650 species of air plants, and some of them bloom pretty little flowers. You can try growing an air plant in your house…. You can even pin it to a curtain and it will grow! ___ The Confetti Park podcast and radio program, hosted by Katy Hobgood Ray, features music and stories spun in Louisiana. It showcases songs that kids love, songs created for kids, and songs created by kids. Sparkling interviews, in-studio perform

In this episode of Confetti Park, Katy Hobgood Ray interviews Ol’ Chumbucket, the co-creator of International Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19. Chumbucket, also known as John Baur in certain circles, lives in New Orleans today (he has lived in many places including the Virgin Islands) and spends much of his time traveling the pirate festival circuit promoting his books and pirate culture. Chrissie Warren: Pirate Hunter, is his latest. It’s a truly entertaining young adult book about a 13-year-old girl in colonial Virginia who disguises herself as a boy in order to sign onto a merchant ship. What drives her to such rash madness? She must rescue her father, who has been taken by terrible pirates. This book is a great ride! Ol’ Chumbucket has co-authored  at least eight books about pirate culture with his buddy Cap’n Slappy (a.k.a Mark Summers, the co-creator of Talk Like a Pirate Day), including A Li’l Pirate’s ABSeas, “a piratical romp through the alphabet with all that that implies. Sometimes rude, som

Enjoy this spooky, dramatic tale of a pirate who experiences the strangest vision…. a skeleton pirate crew who carry treasure aboard the island where he is marooned. “It all started when Mr. Colt, me scurvy dog of a first mate raised a mutiny against me. I was so proud; that’s how I first became a captain, you know.” “….At first she appeared to be nothin’ but a large shadow moving across the waves, but as she got closer it became clear that it were a ship; but no ordinary ship she was, for she was indeed made of nothin’ but shadows. ….It was then that that chill took a hold of me in earnest as I watches her crew boarding those boats, for they weren’t men, not least as we know them; they were a crew of skeletons whose bones glowed in the night.” Based on an old pirate tale updated by David Eugene Ray, author of the award-winning book The Little Mouse Santi, and narrated by the vibrant New Orleans actor and producer Chris Lane, ‘Dem Bones is sure to thrill listeners of all ages! Who doesn’t love a good pirate t

In this episode of Confetti Park, Katy Hobgood Ray interviews Kid Chef Eliana de Las Casas, a New Orleans-based chef who is seriously one of the hardest-working kids around. Eliana has been cooking since she was four years old! Her interested hasn't waned over the years from those early days of watching her family elders make food in the kitchen. Now at 16 years old, Eliana has bloomed as a chef, as an entrepreneur, as a cookbook author and as a culinary personality. Eliana was born in Gretna and has a whole lot of cultural influences driving her style. She describes herself as a gumbo of Filipino, Cajun, Honduran, and Cuban. "My whole family taught me how to cook, everyone. We always loved being in the kitchen together and having huge family gatherings," says Eliana. "There would just be all kinds of different dishes at the table. I never wanted to leave the kitchen! I was never the kid to ask for toys. I always wanted something kitchen-related." Eliana’s mom is notable Louisiana children's author Dianne de

This is a special Confetti Park interview with Lashon Daley, the lovely author behind Mr. Okra Sells Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. Today Lashon is pursuing a PHD in Performance Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. But for a while, she lived in New Orleans, and was inspired to write her sweet book about our favorite produce vendor. In this interview Lashon talks about the first time she ever saw Mr. Okra, and how she went about creating a children’s book featuring his life’s calling. Says Lashon: “It was an early Sunday morning, and I remember hearing the truck coming down my street and I thought, is that an ice cream man? And he was calling out these fruits and vegetables, saying there were strawberries and mangoes and bananas, and I thought to myself What kind of ice cream truck man is this?… I found out how well loved he is by the city.” Mr. Okra Sells Fresh Fruits and Vegetables was published by Pelican Publishing Company, Inc. It is available in bookstores in New Orleans, Berkeley, and on Ama

It’s a music memory brought to you by Confetti Park! Jimmy Caskey lives in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he and his wife Jacques own and operate a beloved lunchtime restaurant called Jacquelyn’s Cafe. Jimmy has been playing guitar all his life, and has performed in several different bands around north Louisiana. Whenever people go to Jacquelyn’s Cafe, in addition to enjoying the shrimp salad and Monte Cristo sandwiches, bowls of gumbo and red beans and rice, they’re getting a musical education (whether they know it or not!).  Jim Caskey is the deejay, and he lovingly shares his large and eclectic recording collection with everyone who steps through the doors. He will talk music with anyone who is interested in learning about what they're hearing. Jimmy’s love for music is lifelong. In this music memory, Jimmy discusses discovering his parents' turntable and records when he was small child: “I was around 5 or 6 in Mississippi, I remember my folks had albums and a turntable. And I remember sitting there listenin

It’s Confetti Park Storytime! In this episode, we hear a wonderful New Orleans tale based on our favorite contemporary street vendor, Mr. Okra. The story was written in collaboration with Mr. Okra by Lashon Daley, and illustrated by Emile Henriquez. We are so lucky to have the story narrated for us by the author! And who is Mr. Okra? He is Arthur Robinson, a real life man who lives in New Orleans today! He a street vendor who sells produce from a truck. We all New Orleanians love to hear his recognizable call. From the inside flap of the book: “Up and down the streets of New Orleans, Mr. Okra drives his brightly painted truck. All over the city, you can hear his call: ‘I got oranges and bananas! I got tomatoes, cucumbers, and avocadoes!’ His fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables are as colorful as Mardi Gras floats, as green as the St. Charles Streetcar, and as different as the animals at the Audubon Zoo. Taste and tour New Orleans in this colorful story.” Lashon Daley came to New Orleans to work with a nonpro

In this episode of Confetti Park, I am delighted to share the story of the Ten Little Crawfish, marvelously narrated by the author, Melinda Taliancich Falgoust. Ten little crawfish, swimmin’ in da swamp. One thought he heard some Zydeco and stopped to dance and stomp…. This is Melinda's brand-new counting concept board book that someday will be on the shelf of every Louisiana kid. Join the ten little crawfish as they count down through the Crescent City and some of its best-known landmarks. We are so lucky to have Melinda read it to us!  The New Orleans-based author and illustrator is currently taking pre-orders for this adorable and entertaining book through IndieGoGo. Be among the first to get it. (I think it's going to be a classic!) With its ten, tasty crustaceans, the savory silliness appeals to a young reader's developing sense of humor and helps them create a positive association with books. The patterned text also makes it easy for preschoolers to jump in and participate. The sights and sounds of New

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: Wake-Y-Up-O - Kevin Griffin Birds Birdy, Tweet Tweet - Mr. Christopher Bullfrog - Louis Ray Jack & Jill - Confetti Park Players Skip to My Lou - Swing Setters Farm - Imagination Movers Summit of Sound - Renzi Center Old Man - Leadbelly A Rum Sum Sum - Judy Caplan Ginsburgh Jambalaya (On the Bayou) - Papillon Also featured in this episode, a Louisiana folk tale called The Little Louisiana Pine Tree, a music memory from Shreveport musician Leonard Service, and a poem from Confetti Park Player Hrilina Ramrakhiani. The Confetti Park podcast and radio program, hosted by Katy Hobgood Ray, features music and stories spun in Louisiana. It showcases songs that kids love, songs created for kids, and songs created by