Monday [Hardcover]

Anne Herbauts (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A playfully poetic book about the passage of time, Monday tells the story of three friends.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3–5—Duck-billed Monday spends happy times with Lester Day and Tom Morrow in this semi-wordless, sensory-driven picture book. They have a great time together, and Monday wishes for those times again—so much so that he wastes time calling to friends who are no longer there. As the seasons pass and winter arrives, he disappears in the total whiteness of a snowstorm. His friends return but they cannot find him; he has become a faint memory, which is indicated by the embossed impressions of his outline in the thinner paper. After they have gone, Monday comes around again, looking a little different. The now-blue outline of his house, change of clothes, and heavier paper show that he has changed from the experience. Herbauts's deft illustrations subtly define the passage of time that brings the story full circle. As the seasons change and Monday disappears in the snow, the heavy bond paper gradually becomes thinner. Dents and dimples in it, combined with watercolor paintings, create the storm, and when Monday disappears, he can only be "seen" by feeling the impressions in the paper that indicate where he once stood. The unique visual and tactile techniques enrich the poetic text, combining to create a deeply profound story that contemplates the idea of pining away for yesterday and wishing for tomorrow. This thought-provoking book will have limited appeal to children, but when observed closely and talked about, it should find a small, appreciative audience.—Kristine M. Casper, Huntington Public Library, NY
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Review

Silver Medal Winner of the 3X3 Illustration Award

Voted a 2004 Best Picture Book of the Year by Lire Magazine

A 2005 IBBY Honor Book

“This playful and original picture book takes three friends through the days of the week as well as the seasons of the year.” – jellymom.com

“The collage and raised pictures along with the puns, word play and clever vocabulary make this a page turner and a very interesting book.” – Janet Brock Elementary School, Arlington, TX

“A picture book that makes mysterious poetry out of the days of the week and the seasons of the year. Most readers...may find the moody, beautifully composed illustrations mesmerizing.” – The New York Times Book Review

“The illustrations are brilliantly simple...Some unexpected surprises come with this book as well: textured snow, a welcoming die-cut cover, pages of varying thickness, and an oddly dimensioned house.” - curledupkids.com

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 36 pages
• Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592700578
• ISBN-13: 978-1592700578
• Product Dimensions: 12.4 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,035,161 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Unique, September 21, 2007

By 

Katherine Ivy "A mom" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Monday (Hardcover)

My three year old daughter sat through two readings of this book today. I read it to her this afternoon for the first time and thought to myself "hmmmm/interesting/artistic/not sure it will appeal to the general masses". I was curious what my husband would think of it and so I had him read it to her again at bedtime. My husband is an Aerospace Engineer; way too intelligent and what does he say about it? "It was good. I like the bumpy snow". :) The book has soulful illustrations and there are raised parts to add a sensory allure. If we had the story back when I took Philosphy in college we could have probably talked about it for hours. I recommend this book as an artful; unique; simple yet complex addition to anyone's collection, young or old. However, as the lowest common denominator in America has been polluted by commercialism; I'm not sure they'll embrace this. We seem to turn children's literature into animated television shows and I'm not sure this would lend well to that - which isn't necessarily a bad thing. A thought on the illustrations - it's kind of like the Beatles "Yellow Submarine" meets "The Wizard of Oz" with a touch of something I can't quite put my finger on and I believe is worthy of looking at just for an analysis/perspective. I was thinking people are either going to love it or hate it, but the longer I've had to digest the book I'm leaning away from the hate part and thinking most people are going to find it to be very....unique.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, Poetic Children's Book, October 11, 2009

By 

Ellen J (Bellingham, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Monday (Hardcover)

This has been my daughter's favorite book for several months, and she is not even 2 yet. The illustrations are superb, the dialog is open ended and complex, with some difficult words for a young child, (ex: salutations, expand, albeit). I believe this will keep her engaged for a long time, as there is much to talk about thematically in the book. The die cut cover and embossed pages are tactile and she always loves touching them, but they are subtle and work into the storyline well. As an adult who can tire of reading the same book repeatedly to a young child, this book is a delight. The book design, artwork, and changing paper weight all make reading this book over and over again enjoyable, like re-reading a good poem.

4.0 out of 5 stars Unique but Neat Story, November 2, 2010

By 

A. Bidwell - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Monday (Hardcover)

Upon first glance I was unsure about this book. It is translated from French and doesn't make a whole lot of sense (or maybe I'm just thick!) However, after about a million reads to my kids, it has grown on me. The illustrations are so unique and some of them are textured. The story is a little odd, but interesting and different. My 2 year-old daughter is obsessed with this book and my 5 year-old son enjoys it...every night!