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 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 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.