What do you think?
Monday is One Day
One by one, the days of the week roll by. Monday is one day, Tuesday is blue shoes day, and Wednesday is halfway day.
When Saturday and Sunday finally come, it's time for little ones and the adults who love them to play, share, and celebrate. Every day of the week offers a special opportunity for families to enjoy being together!
When Saturday and Sunday finally come, it's time for little ones and the adults who love them to play, share, and celebrate. Every day of the week offers a special opportunity for families to enjoy being together!
32 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2011
About the author
Arthur A. Levine
16 books13 followersArthur A. Levine is the U.S. editor of the phenomenally successful Harry Potter series.
Levine grew up in Elmont, on the fringes of New York City. In 1984, Levine joined the staff of the publishing house G.P. Putnam's Sons. While at Putnam's, Levine edited several books, including Rafe Shannon's The Rough-Face Girl and two Caldecott award-winning titles: Officer Buckle and His Dog Gloria and Mirette on the High Wire. Levine also worked a stint at Dial Books for Young People. In 1984, Levine became editor-in-chief of Alfred A. Knopf books for Young People. He launched Arthur A. Levine Books in 1997. In addition to editing, Levine wrote several successful picture books. His latest effort, Tooth Trooth, is slated to be be published soon by Scholastic Press.
Levine grew up in Elmont, on the fringes of New York City. In 1984, Levine joined the staff of the publishing house G.P. Putnam's Sons. While at Putnam's, Levine edited several books, including Rafe Shannon's The Rough-Face Girl and two Caldecott award-winning titles: Officer Buckle and His Dog Gloria and Mirette on the High Wire. Levine also worked a stint at Dial Books for Young People. In 1984, Levine became editor-in-chief of Alfred A. Knopf books for Young People. He launched Arthur A. Levine Books in 1997. In addition to editing, Levine wrote several successful picture books. His latest effort, Tooth Trooth, is slated to be be published soon by Scholastic Press.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
February 10, 2012
This simple, short book is a sweet, rhyming poem about parents missing their children when the go to work each day and looking foward to weekend family time.
What is so great about this book is the families it depicts.
Monday is a single, white, blue-collar dad with a son and a dog.
Tuesdiay is a single, white mom carrying a briefcase.
Wednesday is a black, straight couple with twins and a cat.
Thursday is an older couple with a farm who could be the grandparents of the little boy.
Friday is a middle or upper-class, white, gay male couple with a son and a dog.
Saturday is a white, straight couple with a daughter.
It only doesn't get five stars because there are no inter-racial families and only one non-white family. But overall, it's a beautiful book worthy of a PRGS award (http://kvsdesigns.com/blog/book-awards/) for its positive portrayal of alternative families.
What is so great about this book is the families it depicts.
Monday is a single, white, blue-collar dad with a son and a dog.
Tuesdiay is a single, white mom carrying a briefcase.
Wednesday is a black, straight couple with twins and a cat.
Thursday is an older couple with a farm who could be the grandparents of the little boy.
Friday is a middle or upper-class, white, gay male couple with a son and a dog.
Saturday is a white, straight couple with a daughter.
It only doesn't get five stars because there are no inter-racial families and only one non-white family. But overall, it's a beautiful book worthy of a PRGS award (http://kvsdesigns.com/blog/book-awards/) for its positive portrayal of alternative families.
August 29, 2011
Reading this book to my four year old the night before back to school PD made me really sad. It is basically about making it through the weak.
The thing I find most interesting in this book is the families. Each day of the week has a picture of a family doing something with their children. Monday has a single dad saying goodbye to his boy. Tuesday a single mom with her daughter. The illustrator also includes families from different ethnicity. One family appears to be grandparents raising a boy. Things get interesting on Friday where it appears to be two men raising a young boy. I felt like the book is trying to make different family situations okay and I applaud the book for that effort.
The thing I find most interesting in this book is the families. Each day of the week has a picture of a family doing something with their children. Monday has a single dad saying goodbye to his boy. Tuesday a single mom with her daughter. The illustrator also includes families from different ethnicity. One family appears to be grandparents raising a boy. Things get interesting on Friday where it appears to be two men raising a young boy. I felt like the book is trying to make different family situations okay and I applaud the book for that effort.
July 5, 2017
Monday is One Day presents the days of the week as countable, a wonderful next-step concept for kids who are ready to learn how to think about them as more than rote sequence.
At its heart, the book is about how we miss spending time with our families during the work/school week. It's a relatable social-emotional story that teaches two simple coping skills: counting the days and finding special moments in everyday life.
The days themselves aren't explicitly counted (which I'd have preferred). Instead, for the first four days, the parents and children count something special to them that helps them to mark the number of the day. For Monday, it's one cuddle; for Tuesday it's two stomps in a puddle, for Wednesday it's three raspberries on the nose, and for Thursday it's four T-Rex growls. These are great interactive moments in the book that we enjoy acting out as we read the story.
It's too bad this structure breaks down for Friday and Saturday, which don't have any counting elements. When we finally arrive at Sunday, all the families are having a good time together in a park relaxing.
Although the rhythm is shaky in parts and the overall structure is imperfect, I like that the book rhymes and uses a restrained number of words. It's easy for both of my children to follow along.
It's also a book that shows a diversity of family types, which is so important for children whose families don't look like most families in children's books. My wife Janet and I are a same-sex couple, so when a book uses a diversity of family types, I sit up and take notice. Monday is One Day includes a single dad, a single mom, two dads, two moms, grandparents raising a child, and a mom-and-dad family.
****
I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is from a longer blog post about great books for kids with autism that can be used to learn the days of the week: http://www.lineupthebooks.com/days-of...
At its heart, the book is about how we miss spending time with our families during the work/school week. It's a relatable social-emotional story that teaches two simple coping skills: counting the days and finding special moments in everyday life.
The days themselves aren't explicitly counted (which I'd have preferred). Instead, for the first four days, the parents and children count something special to them that helps them to mark the number of the day. For Monday, it's one cuddle; for Tuesday it's two stomps in a puddle, for Wednesday it's three raspberries on the nose, and for Thursday it's four T-Rex growls. These are great interactive moments in the book that we enjoy acting out as we read the story.
It's too bad this structure breaks down for Friday and Saturday, which don't have any counting elements. When we finally arrive at Sunday, all the families are having a good time together in a park relaxing.
Although the rhythm is shaky in parts and the overall structure is imperfect, I like that the book rhymes and uses a restrained number of words. It's easy for both of my children to follow along.
It's also a book that shows a diversity of family types, which is so important for children whose families don't look like most families in children's books. My wife Janet and I are a same-sex couple, so when a book uses a diversity of family types, I sit up and take notice. Monday is One Day includes a single dad, a single mom, two dads, two moms, grandparents raising a child, and a mom-and-dad family.
****
I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is from a longer blog post about great books for kids with autism that can be used to learn the days of the week: http://www.lineupthebooks.com/days-of...
August 7, 2019
What I liked: lots of types of families represented, kids being reassured that they will get to see more of their parents more when the work week is through. What I didn’t: Only a Monday through Friday workweek is shown. This isn’t true for a large percentage of us. Also, neither my kids nor I are just making it through until we see each other. They’re having fun, they’re learning, they’re hanging out with friends, and I’m doing important things at work. I like to think that is a good thing for them to see as well.
June 1, 2017
This is a rhyming story about how parents and children go through their week despite missing each during the day. It is a lovely story and I am very impressed by the fact that it depicts diverse types of families. There are single parent families, a family with two dads, a family with a child and grandparents and an African American family. It is nice to see diversity without that being the focus of the book. Overall, a lovely story that many families will relate to.
October 26, 2017
I opened up Monday is One Day thinking that it was just a book about the week. After a few pages, I realized it was about parents and their children working through the week and looking forward to the weekend when they get to spend a lot of time together. Then I noticed the representation of different families. Also, the illustrations are just pleasant! Wonderful book, on so many levels.
January 28, 2019
For parents who say goodbye to their children in the morning, and hello again in the evening, this book helps count down to the weekend where they can play together again. It just didn't really strike my fancy, I like to have fun with my kid during the week too. And too much counting down, means missing what's right in front of you.
March 29, 2019
Homage to the rat race. Honestly, why not tell your child the cool stuff you do whilst away? Alas, this book just feels anachronistic and odd. True, schools run on a Monday through Friday cycle, but those of us in the service/agricultural/entertainment/creative/research/etc. worlds don't know what you mean by weekend, and it's weird to be left out of the frame.
Read
April 3, 2022This book shows parents who are sad to leave for work without their kids, but then propose to count the days until they are both at home together. Each day of the week they count something special that they do together - one snuggle, two stomps in a puddle, etc…
An I-love-you book with the days of the week, counting and a variety of families.
An I-love-you book with the days of the week, counting and a variety of families.
May 5, 2017
I really enjoyed this simple and fast paced book about parents leaving for work each day. The child is encouraged to count the days until the weekend. I really liked the different types of families presented here. Toddler and up. Great one on one.
May 5, 2019
Simple text describes one week in the life of various families with their children -- all looking forward to the weekend when they can spend more time together. A Family with grey-haired adults, a pair of dads, single parents, and a family of color. Missing is a mixed-race family.
July 24, 2019
My older daughter is OBSESSED with this book and has checked it out from the library 5 times. It's about kids and parents missing each other during the week but enjoying their weekend time togther. Fun and sweet, I'm not mad to read this over and over.
August 15, 2020
I appreciate the inclusion of many different kinds of parents, but find it odd that five out of six families featured have only one child; no families have more than two kids. The rhymes are odd and I don’t care for the illustration style.
March 10, 2022
A cute book for parents who have to drop their kids off or leave them to go off to work. It's hard to do but this is a cute way to make it easier. Every day has a different theme which makes the send off more fun.
October 17, 2017
A sweet look at families getting through the week while separated at school, daycare, and work. Having fun when you are together and looking forward to the weekend.
October 18, 2017
This book was a library pick-up BOMB. The story is poorly poorly written and I think the only reason it was published was to push a non-traditional family agenda.
March 2, 2018
Fun story incorporating the themes of days of the week and working parents.
October 9, 2019
Not a huge fan. I think it would be great for a small child with extreme separation anxiety. Not to be confused with a dog with separation anxiety, that requires a completely different fix.
August 16, 2020
This was a short and simple book about the days of the week. I liked the inclusivity, showing all different types of parents and families.
February 3, 2024
This book is good for the 1-5 year olds who have separation anxiety. I like that it rhymes and has so many different families pictured. My 6 year old was underwhelmed.
February 27, 2024
A good book for separation anxiety
March 7, 2017
Loved the diverse illustrations and families presented in this book. Feel-good story to get you through Monday and the rest of the week. :-)
December 1, 2010
As families wake up to the new week, the hardest part is being away from each other. Follow the days of the week here for a celebration of how working families can connect and spend time together throughout the week. The days continue to move forward from Monday to Tuesday, filled cuddles and puddles. Then come Wednesday and Thursday with raspberry kisses and dinosaur growls. Friday’s the last day of the workweek, so help pick out a tie. Then comes the fun of Saturday and Sunday for families to spend together.
Levine has written such a simple book that even the youngest of children will be able to relate to it. The rhymes are easy and feel natural when read aloud. This book is just what working families need to celebrate their own connections and family relationships.
The illustrations add diversity and a modern feel to the book. It is packed full of different types of families, all enjoying connections with their children. There are families of different colors, gay parents, and grandparents caring for grandchildren. Happily, nothing is pointed out about the families that are different than the stereotypical norm. Instead this book just celebrates everyone with ease and style.
A positive and welcoming book that will have families rejoicing. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Levine has written such a simple book that even the youngest of children will be able to relate to it. The rhymes are easy and feel natural when read aloud. This book is just what working families need to celebrate their own connections and family relationships.
The illustrations add diversity and a modern feel to the book. It is packed full of different types of families, all enjoying connections with their children. There are families of different colors, gay parents, and grandparents caring for grandchildren. Happily, nothing is pointed out about the families that are different than the stereotypical norm. Instead this book just celebrates everyone with ease and style.
A positive and welcoming book that will have families rejoicing. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
December 22, 2016
Themes: families, working parents, days of the week
May 19, 2011
This sweet and simple story was inspired by the author's own feelings about going back to work after his infant son was born. It depicts many different types of people in many different types of families - single parents, gay parents, grandparents, etc. - and gives cute suggestions for counting down the days until the weekend.
Monday is one day:
One safe snuggly cuddle.
and
Wednesday's halfway day:
Three raspberries on the nose.
The illustrations by Julian Hector reminded me a lot of the original Curious George books. They have the same black lines with primary colors, and that same timeless feeling. I especially love the bright yellow sun that appears on the cover and at various other points in the story. It stands in wonderful contrast to the moon in the night scenes that fill each of the endpapers, and it brightens the mood of the entire story.
This book would be great to share with little ones who miss Mom and Dad during the day, or whose parents are returning to work after previously staying home. It shows that parents are just as eager to spend time with their kids, as the kids are to spend time with them, and makes the long work week seem like a manageable period of time to wait for the fun of the weekend.
Monday is one day:
One safe snuggly cuddle.
and
Wednesday's halfway day:
Three raspberries on the nose.
The illustrations by Julian Hector reminded me a lot of the original Curious George books. They have the same black lines with primary colors, and that same timeless feeling. I especially love the bright yellow sun that appears on the cover and at various other points in the story. It stands in wonderful contrast to the moon in the night scenes that fill each of the endpapers, and it brightens the mood of the entire story.
This book would be great to share with little ones who miss Mom and Dad during the day, or whose parents are returning to work after previously staying home. It shows that parents are just as eager to spend time with their kids, as the kids are to spend time with them, and makes the long work week seem like a manageable period of time to wait for the fun of the weekend.
April 30, 2015
Synopsis: "A love note from a working parent to a child, counting the days of the week -- each one a special opportunity to spend time together.
One by one, the days of the week roll by. Monday is one day, Tuesday is blue shoes day, and Wednesday is halfway day.
When Saturday and Sunday finally come, it's time for little ones and the adults who love them to play, share, and celebrate. Every day of the week offers a special opportunity for families to enjoy being together!"
My Review: I ordered this book a while ago from Scholastic and I have no idea why I waited so long to read it with Munchkin. It is a great book to talk about the days of the week, especially when discussing when and why you have to go to work with children. They do the days of the week starting on Monday as opposed to Sunday (but in reality how many people actually look at Sunday as the first day of the week anymore?). It has fun little rhymes for each of the days of the week for you to use to remind little ones of how many days are left until the weekend and time together.
One by one, the days of the week roll by. Monday is one day, Tuesday is blue shoes day, and Wednesday is halfway day.
When Saturday and Sunday finally come, it's time for little ones and the adults who love them to play, share, and celebrate. Every day of the week offers a special opportunity for families to enjoy being together!"
My Review: I ordered this book a while ago from Scholastic and I have no idea why I waited so long to read it with Munchkin. It is a great book to talk about the days of the week, especially when discussing when and why you have to go to work with children. They do the days of the week starting on Monday as opposed to Sunday (but in reality how many people actually look at Sunday as the first day of the week anymore?). It has fun little rhymes for each of the days of the week for you to use to remind little ones of how many days are left until the weekend and time together.
May 5, 2011
Grades PS - 2
This reassuring picture book makes the countdown to the weekend fun for all those families who don't have a lot of time together during the school- and work-week. Arthur Levine's rhyming text pairs beautifully with cheerful illustrations from Julian Hector. The high point of the book is the universality: a mix of family types and ethnic backgrounds are shown in urban, suburban, and rural settings. The message is clearly sent that, whatever the family make-up may be-- nuclear family, single parent, same-sex parents-- the child is loved: "Monday through Sunday, the whole week through, each day I count the ways I love to be with you!"
This reassuring picture book makes the countdown to the weekend fun for all those families who don't have a lot of time together during the school- and work-week. Arthur Levine's rhyming text pairs beautifully with cheerful illustrations from Julian Hector. The high point of the book is the universality: a mix of family types and ethnic backgrounds are shown in urban, suburban, and rural settings. The message is clearly sent that, whatever the family make-up may be-- nuclear family, single parent, same-sex parents-- the child is loved: "Monday through Sunday, the whole week through, each day I count the ways I love to be with you!"
June 7, 2011
Appreciated that this title is from the perspective of the working parent (which I have almost always been) to their children assuring them that the weekend is looked forward to and cherished just as the children are even when the parent is working. Diversity of families is shown in the illustrations...reassuring words count through the days of week from Monday to Sunday. I love the end of the book showing all the families enjoying a beautiful day with a picnic. This is a nice option for working parents to share as a bedtime story.
February 14, 2013
I borrowed this book because I recognized the style of This Is the Firefighter, a book that we liked a lot. Now, while I appreciate the efforts the author makes to picture diversity, this book is just not half as good as the before mentioned book. But, although the pictures are maybe not stunning, I really like the use of the basic colors and the clean style. The prose on the other hand is a little forced.
June 20, 2011
Sometimes books shout that they have a mission. This one seems to be saying "Here I am--a book about working families, and look, I've even got a 2 daddies family!"
Okay, but the prose is awkward--there seems to be some attempt at a rhyming pattern, but nothing consistent. And despite the emotion that SHOULD be in this story, it feels empty. The artwork doesn't help--it's flat and angular. One more for "the purpose gets in the way of a real story" category.
Okay, but the prose is awkward--there seems to be some attempt at a rhyming pattern, but nothing consistent. And despite the emotion that SHOULD be in this story, it feels empty. The artwork doesn't help--it's flat and angular. One more for "the purpose gets in the way of a real story" category.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews