Reviews

"In this adaptation of a popular song, internationally-acclaimed children’s musician Downing introduces a signature Louisiana food for each day of the week, from red beans on Monday to beignets on Sunday. After presenting each new dish, the book repeats preceding days’ dishes, providing children the perfect opportunity to participate in the story as they are prompted to recall information from previous pages. A catchy refrain follows each day’s meal: “All you lucky children come and eat it up. Come and eat it up!” Kadair’s trademark collages illustrate close-ups of each new food while a table full of children with plates in front of them occupies the pages opposite the chorus. Downing’s rhythmic, repetitive text will appeal to children, as will Kadair’s addition of a new child to the table for each new food."

- Kirkus Reviews

PreSchool-Grade 3 — A variation of a Louisiana song with a twist–each day a new food is served as a faceless assortment of children come one by one to the table. Eventually, there are seven, with seven different dishes in front of them, a cat and dog underneath the table waiting for scraps, and a grandmotherly figure overseeing everything.

“Downing fans may recognize this cumulative text as the lyrics to a longtime Louisiana favorite song she adapted for her 1998 kid” album, From the Gumbo Pot. Even without the music, the words still have plenty of lip-smacking appeal as they match signature Creole and Cajun dishes to the days of the week. “Today is Monday/Monday red beans,” begins the text, adding the verses’ refrain: “All you lucky children, come and eat it up. Come and eat it up!” By the time the end of the week rolls around, readers also will have been urged to try everything from po’boys (Tuesday) to beignets (Sunday), always followed by the refrain. Kadair” (Grandma’s Gumbo) cut-paper and photo collages alternate close-ups of the dishes with scenes of a dining room that welcomes an ever-growing number of guests. Her homespun collages may be made from cloth and paper (and even rice), but they prove to be a tasty medium for conveying the mouthwatering flavors. Youngsters may well be inspired to put together their own art projects celebrating their favorite dishes. In keeping with the spirit of the culture it celebrates, the book also includes a lagniappe: a description of each dish cited, and a recipe for red beans and rice.” (Ages 5-8) (Nov. 2006)”

— Publishers Weekly

“Much simpler in concept, ‘Today is Monday in Louisiana,’ written by Johnette Downing and illustrated by Deborah Ousley Kadair (Pelican Publishing Company, $15.95, ages 3 and up), uses favorite Louisiana foods to illustrate the days of the week. Monday is red beans (we all know that!), Tuesday is po-boys, Wednesday is gumbo, Thursday is jambalaya, Friday is catfish, Saturday is crawfish, and Sunday is beignets. Most readers will be salivating by the final page. Illustrated with Kadair’s distinctive collage on bright white background style, the book has a “Word Menu” at the back that gives additional information about each dish and a delicious-sounding recipe for red beans and rice. Downing, an award-winning Louisiana songwriter and performer, has adapted the text from one of her popular songs. Both author and illustrator obviously appreciate good food, so this is not a book to read when dieting.”

— Marigny Dupuy, The Times Picayune

“Of course, we all know what we eat on Mondays, red beans and rice, right? But, what do we eat all the other days. This colorful book covers other meals; po-boys on Tuesday, gumbo on Wednesday, jambalaya on Thursday, etc. Your budding chefs will be ready to cook up a storm after devouring this delightful book.”

— Acadiana LifeStyle, November 2006

“This delightful picture book combines Louisiana cuisine with the days of the week, starting with red beans and rice on Mondays and working to Sunday beignets. Accompanied by patchwork fabric illustrations of Deborah Kadair of Baton Rouge, the book plays on a traditional song as it refrains, “All you lucky children come and eat it up.” At the back is a recipe for red beans and a glossary of Louisiana terms.”

— Acadiana Parent, November 2006

Monday, Tuesday….in Orleans
“Monday is for red beans, Tuesday is jambalaya, Wednesday is gumbo… Sunday is for beignets. In Today is Monday in Lousiana (Pelican), written by popular local children’s songwriter and Louisiana native Johnette Downing, kids learn a new Louisiana dish each for each day of the week, a mix of the creole, Cajun, French and African cuisines that have been enjoyed for generations. The book also includes a glossary that describes each meal and a recipe for red beans and rice.”

— Playthings.com