RED BEANS & RICE

Jeanette Weiland’s NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK

• Age Range: 3 - 8 years

• Grade Level: Preschool - 3

• Hardcover: 32 pages

• Publisher: Susan Schadt Press (Sept 15, 2020)

• Language: English

• ISBN-10: 1733634142

• ISBN-13: 978-1733634144

• Product Dimensions: 10 x 10 inches

“Do you ever wonder where it all comes from and how it is made?” In Jeanette Weiland’s Red Beans & Rice book, children discover the earth to table connection when Magnolia Rose and her friends visit Grandma Bee and Grandpa Pepper’s farm in rural Louisiana.

Red Beans & Rice is a playful and polite lesson about farm to table.  When Magnolia Rose and her friends visit Grandma Bee and Grandpa Pepper’s farm in rural Louisiana, the children discover their outdoor playgrounds are the source of the flavorful ingredients used to make favorite Louisiana dishes: Red Beans & Rice, Strawberry Shortcake, Seafood Po-Boys, Pecan Pralines, and more.  This is Jeanette Weiland's second published children's book, and the first time she’s teamed up with her artist mother, Roberta Van Zandt Loflin, whose original water color illustrations were produced for the book. 

“My mother is a fabulous artist and gardener and I remember her trying to move us past the ‘yuck and that’s gross,’ stage to appreciating all of the deliciousness (and nutrition) farm fresh produce offers. My first book explores the food and culture of New Orleans. I wanted to expand upon that theme and explore our food culture through the farm ingredients for iconic Louisiana dishes to help children discover the lost connection between the earth, farms, and the plate. These roots obviously reach beyond one city and stretch deep into places around the state." Jeanette Weiland said. 

Weiland also wanted to name the book after another beloved communal dish, and again include hidden treasures throughout the pages of the book adding to the sense of adventure young ones enjoy when spotting the creatures and critters that the region shares as home. 

“With Red Beans & Rice, I also had the opportunity to connect to my mom’s palate and palette which was an extremely rewarding experience. Sitting with her and my own children as we worked on this project was almost surreal; and I love the example it sets for my kids about the importance of family, work, and creativity. Since moving to South Louisiana 20 years ago, we’ve both been influenced by the intense vibrant colors of the landscape, and we find every excuse to add more color. And while we were engaged in this creative process, my daughter, her granddaughter, watched and experienced our joy too, making her own paintings all along the way,” Weiland added. 

Meet the Illustrator

Roberta Van Zandt Loflin

After obtaining a BA in Art History and Theory from George Washington University, Roberta Van Zandt Loflin remained in the Washington, D.C. area where she studied communication design at Northern Virginia Community College and color theory, watercolor and drawing at the Art League School in Alexandria, Va.

Since moving to Baton Rouge, Louisiana she has had the opportunity to teach watercolor through the Art Guild of Louisiana, LSU Continuing Education, and other venues.  She is currently displaying her art at the Hermann-Grima Women’s Exchange, New Orleans, Louisiana Art & Artists’ Guild Gallery and other Baton Rouge locations.

“I think of myself as a colorist and my palette of colors has changed dramatically since moving to Louisiana from Virginia. The subtle colors of the Virginia hills have been replaced by the vibrant tropical hues more commonly seen in the southern Louisiana area. I love to experiment with color combinations and challenge myself with limited palettes. Discovering the myriad of textures and experimental results from using non-traditional materials and supplies also intrigue me. Because I love to experiment, I don’t think I have a particular gimmick to fall back on. As I tell my students, There are no failures in painting – only successes and practice pieces. I experience art as a process, not a product, and every time I put paint to paper it is a new adventure. I hope you enjoy looking at my art as much as I enjoy creating it.”