every monday mabel

the book that will have kids looking forward to garbage day

Spring Break in Minnesota usually looks more like this

Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash

than like this

Photo by Lynn Danielson on Unsplash

This year has been no exception. It snowed on Tuesday, the kind of wet, sloppy snow that isn’t fun to play in. Yesterday, a light drizzle fell on top of the snow, making it even more damp and chilly. Not exactly ideal weather for outdoor adventures. Since Wednesdays are my days off and the kids had just returned from a short stay at Grandma’s, I figured it was a good day to regroup at home.

Much to my six-year-old’s delight, they were doing tree work on our street. We live on a corner lot that sits slightly above street level, and from our living room’s picture window, we can see surprisingly far down the streets surrounding our house. I was cleaning up in the kitchen when I overheard my 10-year-old, E, and 6-year-old, H, having a conversation. This isn’t unusual for them, but what made me smile was how E would start talking about one thing, and H would immediately steer the conversation back to the tree trucks and workers outside. This little scene went on for at least 45 minutes until E finally gave up and walked away. He knew his brother wasn’t interested in the conversation he wanted to have but in the trucks outside.

H’s spot for most of the day

It’s a familiar story for most parents of young children—an undeniable fascination with vehicles. The bigger and noisier, the better. Trucks are irresistible to kids because they engage so many of their senses. They’re huge, they make loud sounds, and there’s always something happening: wheels spinning, arms lifting, lights flashing, horns blaring. Kids are captivated not only by the sensory overload but also by the cause-and-effect element. The horn honks and the truck backs up. The wheels spin and the truck moves forward. The operator controls the bucket and the machine breaks up the dirt or concrete. The “if this, then that” concept is thrilling to them. Vehicles are a constant in their lives, from riding in vehicles themselves to seeing vehicles on their walks through the neighborhood, in books and movies. It’s a familiarity that offers comfort and wonder in equal measure.

Jashar Awan

understands this love for vehicles, and he’s created a picture book that beautifully taps into that fascination. I previously mentioned Awan’s Every Monday Mabel as one to look out for in 2025, but I wanted to give it a special shoutout here because it is absolutely delightful. Without a doubt, it will be one of my favorite picture books of the year.

Mabel is a little girl who is confident and independent and knows exactly what she likes. And what she loves most? Mondays. Because that’s the day the garbage truck comes! The image of Mabel sitting eagerly at the top of her driveway with a dry bowl of cereal, waiting for the big moment? Utterly charming!

When the garbage truck finally arrives, her excitement is contagious. It’s a bit sad that no one else around her shares her enthusiasm for garbage day, but as readers, we get the privilege of knowing that Mabel isn’t the only one who looks forward to Mondays.

Friends, this book is read-aloud perfection. With sparse text, bold and playful illustrations, onomatopoeic wordplay, and a main character that will resonate with so many kids, Every Monday Mabel will captivate even the most reluctant reader. And let’s not forget the pages devoted to the garbage truck! They’re guaranteed to keep every little truck enthusiast engaged from start to finish.

I highly recommend picking up this gem. Mabel’s excitement is bound to be contagious, and before you know it, your little ones will be looking forward to garbage truck day, too (if they aren’t already!).

As always, each book is linked, so you can read more about the book if you are so inclined. If a book was not linked, the book most likely is out of print, so I highly encourage you to check for the book at your local library. Books mentioned today can be found here. I receive a small percentage if a book is purchased through a link, and bookshop.org supports independent bookstores, so your purchase is doing double the good! Of course, the other options are to check for these books at your local library or your favorite independent bookstore. Thank you, as always, for supporting the work I do here.