Jeanette Rose Weiland

Jeanette (or "J.R." as some friends refer to her), is a woman, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, neighbor, colleague, and Saints fan. She has lived in New Orleans almost half of her life, and finds herself infatuated with historic architecture, tropical gardens, and gregarious, neighborly citizens.  She and her husband are the parents of two young children, and they relish the fact that their kids have the opportunity to grow up in a place unmatched in color and culture.  

The impetus behind writing Beignets for Breakfast stems from the time that Jeanette used photographs of her baby daughter to build a sales-pitch PowerPoint deck, to help convince a neighbor’s grown daughter to visit her mother who had recently moved to New Orleans. Through photographs and short, humorous text, the presentation told a story of the fun experiences that could be had during a trip to our city. The idea of writing a children’s book with a similar concept developed over the years as Jeanette watched her own children experience life through the lens of native New Orleanians.

During Mardi Gras 2019, Jeanette attempted to explain to her kids that all children do not experience Carnival season, or even know that it exists.  Her NOLA babies found this news peculiar and difficult to process, as they know nothing other than “looking forward to Mardi Gras when the holidays have passed...”

With two little ones, Jeanette and her husband read multiple children's books almost every day of their lives, most of which lovingly arrived to their home as hand-me-downs and gifts from family, friends, and more.  Some of Jeanette's favorite bedtime reads include:
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day  by Judith Viorst
We don't eat our CLASSMATES  by Ryan T. Higgins
Wild by Emily Hughes  
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Caps for Sale, by Esphyr Slobodkina

Are you curious about the talented artist who painted the Queen Palm fronds, Bougainvilleas, and Anole lizard for this website’s header? Check out Roberta Van Zandt Loflin’s website here!