From Publishers Weekly
"Blue Monday, everybody's got the Monday morning blues," opens Johnson's (All Around Town: The Photographs of Richard Samuel Roberts) impressionistic poem with a gentle cadence, evoking a week in the life of an African-American girl. Each day leading up to Sunday gets a single spread, but "Come Sunday," the most treasured time of the week, eight glorious spreads slow down the pacing, allowing readers to revel in the narrator's favorite rituals. In an opening sketch in charcoal and pastels, Geter (White Socks Only) introduces a beautiful girl with the case of the Monday blahs. As the week progresses, playing jump rope on Tuesday, singing at choir practice on Wednesday, visiting the library story hour on Thursday, Geter shows the heroine's mood improvingAby Sunday she is beaming. Both Johnson and Geter create a timeless atmosphere for the reverie. Laundry on the line, a shared meal, a Sunday drive against an autumn skyAall contribute to an atmosphere of family traditions and togetherness. By focusing on the particulars, author and artist strike a universal chord of familial love and the strength of community. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3A day-by-day walk through a week in a rural Southern town as described by a young African-American resident. On Blue Monday, almost everyone has trouble getting started, but Tuesday is just right for double-Dutch practice and Wednesday is reserved for a midweek choir rehearsal. Thursday promises a trip to the library to sit in a circle with Miss Augusta, surrounded by books filled with magic words. An open-air fish fry means its Finally Friday, followed by the endless chores of Work and work some more on Saturday. Blessed Sunday stretches on forever with a biscuit breakfast, long services at Lovely Hill Baptist Church, and a fried chicken and Carolina rice dinner capped off with a lazy drive. What better way for the day to end than with laughter and just one more slice of pie, and stories and memories with the promise of more afternoons like this to come. Using charcoals and pastels on colored paper, ranging from muted gray to bright orange, Geter captures the spirit and emotional fiber of a closely knit, supportive community. This childs-eye view of her loving family and neighbors is shared with universally appealing warmth and insight.Alicia Eames, New York City Public Schools
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
