We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past

by Jacqueline Woodson, Diane Greenseid

A young girl describes her various relatives and the foods they bring to the annual family picnic

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, African American, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Food

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

I used to say I’d be a teacher or a lawyer or a hairdresser when I grew up but even as I said these things, I knew what made me happiest was writing.

I wrote on everything and everywhere. I remember my uncle catching me writing my name in graffiti on the side of a building. (It was not pretty for me when my mother found out.) I wrote on paper bags and my shoes and denim binders. I chalked stories across sidewalks and penciled tiny tales in notebook margins. I loved and still love watching words flower into sentences and sentences blossom into stories.

I also told a lot of stories as a child. Not “Once upon a time” stories but basically, outright lies. I loved lying and getting away with it! There was something about telling the lie-story and seeing your friends’ eyes grow wide with wonder. Of course I got in trouble for lying but I didn’t stop until fifth grade.

That year, I wrote a story and my teacher said “This is really good.” Before that I had written a poem about Martin Luther King that was, I guess, so good no one believed I wrote it. After lots of brouhaha, it was believed finally that I had indeed penned the poem which went on to win me a Scrabble game and local acclaim. So by the time the story rolled around and the words “This is really good” came out of the otherwise down-turned lips of my fifth grade teacher, I was well on my way to understanding that a lie on the page was a whole different animal — one that won you prizes and got surly teachers to smile. A lie on the page meant lots of independent time to create your stories and the freedom to sit hunched over the pages of your notebook without people thinking you were strange.

Lots and lots of books later, I am still surprised when I walk into a bookstore and see my name on a book’s binder. Sometimes, when I’m sitting at my desk for long hours and nothing’s coming to me, I remember my fifth grade teacher, the way her eyes lit up when she said “This is really good.” The way, I — the skinny girl in the back of the classroom who was always getting into trouble for talking or missed homework assignments — sat up a little straighter, folded my hands on the desks, smiled and began to believe in me.

Reviews

[Linda Lipko · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never read a book of Jacqueline Woodson that I didn't like, and this recent read is no exception.
The images coupled with the story come alive with vibrant text and color.

I could hear the children playing loudly trying to out do each other. And, the bright colors worn by all in attendance made this such a wonderfully happy book.

[Erinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This multicultural picturebook is about an annual family picnic. The author vividly describes the family members and the food that each brings to the gathering.

This is a good companion book to go with Cynthia Rylant's book, The Relatives Came to teach text-to-text connections.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, a star up from one for the mostly joyfulness. But the nasty talking behind Martha's back, and being judgmental about the young man who brought nothing, no thank you. And I do not care for art. And what, the only vegetables are collards and sweet potatoes (I don't count corn) but umpteen desserts? No wonder Michelle Obama tried to get families to have more healthful behaviors.

[Sue.the.very.busy.reader]

This joyful picture book perfectly captures the heart of a Sunday family picnic — full of love, laughter, favorite dishes, and bold personalities. Everyone shows up in their best outfits, carrying the food that makes them feel most at home.
The vibrant illustrations bring Teeka’s family gathering to life, showing the warmth and chaos that make big family get-togethers so memorable. A sweet and colorful celebration of family traditions and the joy of being together.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for Black History storytime - it was the shortest one for little kids.

[Daniel Kleven · Rating 5 out of 5]

delightful book, captivating illustrations

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a fun book. Jacqueline Woodson wrote it to remind herself how fun picnics can be and too keep a promise to her niece about putting her in a book. My favorite character is Uncle Luther!

[Lyla Muhlenkamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past is a great reminder to never take things for granted. A family has a picnic every Sunday and dreads the dried apple pie that their cousin Martha brings. However, Martha isn't showing up! Where is she? And will they find her? This book is great and would love to have in my future classroom someday.

[Tyne Mather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute book about a big family who had a picnic. The granddaughter and the grandma were very close and they talked about all of the good food that was going to be brought; except cousin Martha’s dry apple pie. The picnic table was full of food and everyone was happy to be together

[Jason Brinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacqueline Woodson's We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past is a delightful children's picture book about a little African American girl and her grandmother who are going to a picnic. Woodson and Diane Greenseid, the illustrator, have brilliantly created a story that humorously captures the personalities and culture of a segment of the black community. Their illustrations and text are so one with each other that they make this book such an enjoyable read. The story is uniquely told through the eyes of a young girl, as well as her grandmother, with the light print representing the child speaking and the bold black print representing the elderly woman. Although the characters are depicted in cartoon fashion, the author authentically captures their ethnic style of speech, in addition to their upbeat and larger-than-life personalities. What makes this story so funny is the back and forth, busy-body talking about everybody and everything behind everyone's backs, which is exhibited in an amusing part when Cousin Trevor arrives "empty-handed." The grandmother remarks, "Pretty-boy, Trevor, walking into that park with a handful of nothing;" and to which the girl replies, "Can't eat air." Not only is the text fascinating and fun; but the illustrations are so colorful and complementary, especially the facial expressions and body postures. This book captures the fun and free-spirited nature found within black communities and in their churches.
Teachers can use this book to discuss with children similarities and differences regarding cultures. This book can be used as a creative arts lesson where students can draw a picture of a family picnic, or a picnic with friends, and show the comical ways that their relatives sometimes act and dress and talk. Children will love reading this book because it is so much fun from beginning to end. We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past would be a good read aloud for grades two through six.

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teeka, the cherub-faced narrator of this summer tale, takes us through the list of family and friends who visit the family picnic. Along with her grandmother, Teeka has an uncanny ability to “size people up” by their recurring habits and features. As the story progresses, older readers begin to notice that Teeka’s feelings about the family are probably spawned from listening to her grandmother (a little too) closely. LOL Even the way she speaks and her mannerisms mimic Grandma.

What I liked about this story, was how easy it was to feel a part of it. We can all relate to family gatherings and the dishes and personalities that are constants. As Teeka and the family wait, hoping that her aunt won’t bring her usual pie, we get a hilarious look at the family. There is beauty in the pride Teeka feels for her family, and even very young children can identify with knowing aunts and uncles and cousins who they love to see.

As in her young adult books, Jacqueline Woodson does an amazing job of telling a lifetime, in a simple day and encounter. The beautiful and bubbly illustrations provided by Diane Greenseid are outstanding and they literally pull you into the story, making you wish you had been at the picnic yourself.

Beautifully Illustrated, Engaging characters, Age-Appropriate undertones(pride, happiness, respect), Well-rounded story

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

The trials, tribulations and successes of family picnics

Regular midsummer family reunions disguised as a picnic are always events filled with history. There are the relatives whose creations are to die for and then there are those you fear will make you die. This delightful tale for children is about one such gathering. Everyone fears Martha’s apple pie, which is dry and difficult to eat. However, everyone is polite and all eat every crumb and proclaim its’ goodness.
Some people arrive bearing great quantities of food and others come with nothing but a smile and what charm they have. No one openly objects of course, as the object of the gathering is to renew and strengthen family ties. Despite the presence of a few slackers, everyone manages to have plenty to eat and has a good time.
The text of this book is at the right level for the young child and the illustrations are very colorful and will catch and keep their attention. Since all of the characters are black, this book can also be used in diversity programs.

This book was received for free for review purposes and this review also appears on Amazon

[Katie Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past" is a book about Jacqueline's Woodson's family and friends having a picnic in the park. She goes into depth of what food was brought and how it tasted. She also tells us about her family members and about her grandma. This book is fun and you learn a little more about the author.

I would totally recommend this book. It is not my favorite Jacqueline Woodson book, but it will make you smile.

[Annette Ruane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that the illustrations were my favorite part of this book. The pictures flowed like they were dancing. I think that the use of color was done just right, not too boring and not too overwhelming. I enjoyed the change up for fonts in this book and how some paragraphs were bolded and some were not to show what words went with what person. I also like the message of this book. It is all about bring family together and having a good time. Each family member had something special about them and each family member brought something to the table. I would like to know what the inspiration was for this story and how the book came to be published, are the characters in it from the author’s family or are they made up characters. Over all this was a good book with an important message. Family is important.

[Emily Johnson · Rating 1 out of 5]

We Had a Picnic This Past Sunday is a children's picture book that details the events of a families picnic. Everyone in the family absolutely hates aunt Martha's pie, it is way too dry! Aunt Martha always brings that homemade pie of hers and everyone in the family pretends to love it. As people begin to show up for the picnic, everyone keeps an eye out for Martha and her pie. When Martha finally does show up everyone is surprised to see that she ran out of time to bake and had to buy a store made pie this time! Although everyone is ecstatic that they don't have to eat her pie, they pretend to be disappointed in front of Martha. Although the story is cute, overall, I was not too impressed with this book. I felt that the characters were very stereotypical and in a way it encouraged lying. I do not think that I would choose to place this book in my classroom for these reasons.

[Stacy Boyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past by Jacqueline Woodson was about an African American family who had a Sunday picnic. Typically Cousin Martha showed up with dried up pie but since we wasn't there they went through and introduced everyone in the family or who was involved with the family and let us know there personalities. Eventually Martha showed up, but not with dry pie but with store bought cake which was different. Everybody eats and then goes home until next time. The theme of this book is family. Family is depicted by all the people who show up to eat together and be around each other. I love this book because it shows the reader the way big dinners look in African American families and how the language (lingo) used is different. I would recommend this book to spread the knowledge of a different culture.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary:
In this uplifting story for primary readers, a young girl, Teeka and her extended family come together for a Sunday picnic. Readers meet each family member as he or she arrives with his or her contribution to the picnic. Throughout the story, the dialogue between Grandma, Teeka, and the other family members, creates a fun-filled, family experience as they share their thoughts, personalities and reactions with readers. Through words and pictures, readers experience the loving/sharing bond between family members within the African American community. The final page reads, "We had a picnic this Sunday past. You should have been there," leaving readers with the strong desire to have actually been present at Teeka's family picnic.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

You just want to be there with Teeka and her Grandmother for the great family picnic. Lots of food, fun, hugging and catching up.
Be prepared for questions from interested little ones interested in the family story.
"Where is Teeka's mom and dad? Why doesn't Auntie Kim want to marry?" and other family areas left to explore.
There is one illustration of where Uncle Luther is setting a loaf of cinnamon bread on the park table but the character in that illustration didn't match who I though Uncle Luther was in the following illustrations.
That aside, I enjoyed the text and illustrations.
Illustrated in acrylics paint on paper. Text is set with felt tip.
Age Range: 5 - 9 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten - 4
Lexile Measure: AD710L, Adult Directed - to be read to a child.

[Kimbria Thomas]

This book is considered a family-life fiction book about family who is having a family dinner on a Sunday. The narrator is the granddaughter who explains everything that takes place at the picnic. From the gossiping to playing all day long with your cousins, this story is another great depiction of out culture. As African Americans, it's always something special about that big dinner after church on a Sunday. Grandma cooks most of the food and gossip about members of the family. You have those cousins with the weird nicknames who never bring anything but love to eat all of the food. Gatherings like this really does keep families strong in this culture, that's why this book is so important to me.

[Kara Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

Teeka’s family had a picnic this Sunday past. Everyone was there, from mean old cousin Terrance who put fake flies on the sweet corn, to Bible-toting Reverend Luke to Auntie Kim (Teeka’s all-time favorite). And they were all dreading the arrival of Cousin Martha and her pie, which was always a bit on the dry side (but you had to eat every bit so you didn’t hurt her feelings). But this year, where was Cousin Martha? And where was that dried-out apple pie?

Jacqueline Woodson’s warm, lyrical prose and Diane Greenseid’s exuberant artwork bring to life the humor, love, and of course, the wonderful food of the quintessential family picnic.

Great for autism and explanations!

[Alexis Y. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a great book that depicts the culture in an African American family. The book shows an entire family, immediate and extended getting together for a picnic. Though the book does not state this, I assume the family is from the south cause the characters speak with a southern tone. The characters are unique and bring a different element to the family. It shows an aunt who is a teacher, a cousin who seems like a smooth talker and others with their unique personalities. This book shows more than the single story. It shows a family who enjoys each other and comes together to preserve their familial unity.

[RLL22016 Phoebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

We had a Picnic this Sunday Past is a family focused book. This book take places at a picninc where family members are being described. The book talks about who ha some to the picnic and what they have or have not brought. This book is very realistic because I can relate to being one of the family members that s talked about by the other members of the family. I thought the illustration of this book was done very well. Each pages was full of different colors and different shapes and sizes. I would recommend this book to 1st graders and up. The lesson that can be taught out of this book is that family members come in and all shapes and sizes but they are important.

[Laura Rumohr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary-
This picture book was written for primary students. In the story a young girl, Teeka, gets together with her entire family for a Sunday picnic at the park. During the picnic each family member arrives at different times and Teeka and her Grandma discuss them and comment on what they bring for the picnic. The conversation between Teeka and her grandma is very real and true. Many children could identify with her relationship with her extended family. The story is fun and humorous while showing us a glimpse of the true bond between the people in Teeka's family.

[Juliana Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grandma brags about her cooking and her granddaughter, Teeka. But what she doesn't brag about is Aunt Martha's apple pie that she brings every year, but is so dry no one can eat it. Teeka talks about all the people who arrive and what they bring, or don't bring, to eat. She waits and waits for Aunt Martha, but she's the last to arrive. When she does, they notice she doesn't have her pie. Apparently she was too busy to bake so she brought a store bought cake, the best cake Aunt Martha never made.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fun picture book that nicely channels the exuberance of a family picnic among members of a big family that really all get along well together and know how to have a good time. Jacqueline Woodson's sense of humor is on display very well in these pages, making for a picture book that readers of all ages will enjoy reading. For this being her first picture story, Jacqueline Woodson shows that she already knows what she's doing.

[Omolayo Adenrele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a good fiction/love book for children because it depicts the culture and ways of an African American family. It is about an annual picnic that a family has and talks about what each different family members brings to the picnic. It is definitely age appropriate and creative enough in quality to keep ones attention. Along with the words, the pictures bring about more substance to the story with its colorfulness and creativeness.

[Billy Noecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Teeka and her family picnic. Everyone is usually there, all sorts of different characters, even a crazy aunt with her dry apple pie. But where is she this year? We can all appreciate family gettogethers and the unique personalities that our family members had. I think young readers would enjoy this book because they most certainly have family members that this story might remind them of.

[Elizabeth Moser]

What stuck out most in this book is the colorful illustrations! I also really enjoyed the language used in this book. It had a nice flow to it, told from the perspective of Teeka. It also gives students a window into a family life full of many relatives (cousins, aunts, uncles, neighbors). The language, the pictures and the story line are all very lively.

[Chastidy Stanford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I thought that it was very clever and creative. With all of the different family members that kept arriving at the picnic, I believe that you could allow the young students to keep track of how many showed up.I also believe that this story is a great way to show diversity and different personalities. It is a book that many students can probably relate to.

[Brianna LaPaugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short, fun book about a picnic a family is having together. Although there is not a lot of content, it is a great picture book full of color and patterns that I believe children would love to listen too. The ending provides some humor as well, which I believe could be a short fun read to use to refocus and provide a small brain break for elementary students.