Customer Reviews

Mimi's First Mardi Gras

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Everyone knows about Mardi Gras in New Orleans, right?

If you don't, or if you want to know more then Mimi's First Mardi Gras is the book to read. Written for a young age level it imparts information for everyone.

In story form the book tells us about beignets ( doughnuts eaten for the holiday breakfast), the different groups that march in the parades, trinkets and doubloons thrown from the floats

Illustrated in the vibrant colors of Mardi Gras ( purple, green and gold)the pictures make the story come alive.

We live in Louisiana where we celebrate Mardi Gras at the beginning of Lent Season. Parents take their children to our local parades every year. "Mimi's First Mardi Gras" is certainly a nice beginner's book on the events of Mardi Gras, but nothing about religion is included. Since Mardi Gras is based on Lent, not to explain that, even in mention, is a serious omission. As for for reports in school, look further, although this book is certainly helpful. This is, however, Mimi's first Mardi Gras.

As we walk through the story, I will convey the information for your edification. The double title page shows the colors of Mardi Gras--green, gold, purple, throwing of beads with hands upraised, but, ha ha, so orderly. Anyone who has been to a MG parade knows people are standing there almost riotously awaiting a throw for freebie beads and other trinkets!

King Cakes are shown with Mimi discovering the baby figure and knowing the cake presages the parades. They eat the famous New Orleans beignets, a square of fried dough sprinkled with powered sugar and similar to a dough-nut taste. Quite yummy! The family puts on their costumes, as everyone, so it seems, wears costumes to the parades.

When the MG Indians come by, Mimi's dad explains their history: black men form tribes and work on seriously elaborate costumes all year long. The the jazz funeral parade comes by (no explanation). Zulu is next--an African American parade in existence for 75 years. The big treat the Zulu members throw is coconuts.

Mimi learns about cotton candy when her dad buys some. Next the Rex parade with its trappings of splendor arrives. "Throw me something, Mister" is the line that everyone shouts as they try to catch the multitude of trinkets. Mimi tries to catch a gold doubloon, her most wished for freebie and catches one.

I give this book four stars and deducted one for three things that really bothered me (perhaps I am silly for them):
1. In every illustration Mimi's face looks so adult
2. She has anorexic legs that are just pitiful.
3. At the parade Mimi's mother shows up in only one picture and I am not sure that is she. However, a black woman is beside the dad several times. We know that Mimi's mother is a honey-blonde because she is in the pages in the morning.
4. The lack of explanation, even rudimentary, about the religious connection is just too glaring.

None of these things are serious problems. The illustrations are really lovely. I do recommend this book, especially for parents with time to sit, read, and discuss the book.

I grew up in New Orleans and this book perfectly describes what Mardi Gras was like in my family. The only difference was that after the parades when we went to my cousins' house, we ate homemade fried chicken! We now live in Dallas but try to celebrate Mardi Gras here with music, beads, and king cake parties. We went to Mardi Gras in New Orleans last year so our children understand it but our friends don't have a clue! I read this book to my daughter's kindergarten class and they loved it. It explained to a bunch of "Texans" what Mardi Gras is all about. I would have given it 5 stars but it's a little too long and the song at the end is weird.

Great book for children for an overview about Mardi Gras. Great pictures with the bright Mardi Gras colors. For those who don't know about Mardi Gras, this is a good book to tell the story about what Mardi Gras is all about, even down to the beignets, (doughnuts) that are part of the Louisiana culture.