Mount Pleasant, SC: Pelican Publishing | Arcadia Press (September 12, 2016)

Hardback. Signed.

This variation of the familiar verse "Over in the Meadow" introduces animals and their offspring that live in Mississippi, from a mother dolphin and her dolphin one to a mother honeybee and her honeybees ten.

There's more to learn than just M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i! Acclaimed children's-book author Johnette Downing pays homage to the cultural legacy of Mississippi in this charming book that incorporates many of its native flora and fauna. Her delightful text, adapted from a traditional song, presents a lyrical and visual tribute to the many iconic images and symbols to be found in the state. From dolphins splashing in the surf along the coast to adorable ducklings in the wetlands, this commemorative picture book serves to introduce children to the many unique facts about Mississippi. An author's note gives interesting details about each creature and notes about their habitats and behavior.

Johnette Downing, the recipient of twenty-two international awards, has performed concerts and author visits for children, and workshops for educators, in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, Central America, North America, and the Caribbean. The author of twenty-one children’s books and ten recordings, Downing has garnered rave reviews from School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Parents’ Magazine, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Grammy.com, and numerous parenting journals. Selected by New Orleans Magazine as one of the 2014 Top Female Achievers, and by CityBusiness Magazine as one of the 2008 Women of the Year, Downing, a former early-childhood music teacher, is passionate about combining music and stories to celebrate childhood, culture, and literacy. When not serving her irresistible kid-friendly musical and literary gumbo across the globe, she resides in New Orleans with her husband.