Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan

Publisher blurb: Every Monday, Mabel wakes up early and peeks out her window to make sure she didn’t miss the one thing she’s been looking forward to the whole week. She drags her chair down the hallway, past her big sister and Mom and Dad, out the door, and waits. What is Mabel waiting for every Monday? According to Mabel, it’s the best thing in the world. But no one else in her family seems to understand…until they see what’s honking down the street!

Begin with this fabulous page by page exploration of Every Monday Mabel by Travis Jonker at 100 Scope Notes.

Here are a few quotes from this article that resonated with me:

TITLE PAGE - Through this simple image, we understand that Mabel is in her house, and she is waiting and watching for something (something hinted at on the cover of the book).

Turn over two pages - We see that Mabel has grabbed the chair and the light from the window is projecting a large shadow on the wall. This accentuates the “forward” (to the right) progress, and also emphasizes the mystery of Mabel’s task - where is she headed?

Mabel runs past her sister's room - She’s in such a hurry that the “camera” can’t quite catch her, and, importantly, makes it clear that Mabel DOESN’T CARE that her sister doesn’t understand her obsession. She’s on a mission.

Now go back - click my link and keep reading. 

Awards:

• New York Public Library Best Book of 2025
• Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2025
• Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
• School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
• Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2025
• BCCB Blue Ribbon Book
• NPR Best Book of 2025
• 2025 Good Housekeeping Kids' Book Awards Winner
• Common Sense Media Best Book of 2025
• Smithsonian Magazine Best Children's Book of 2025
• One of the Evanston Public Library's 101 Great Books for Kids of 2025
• The Children's Book Review Best Picture Book of 2025
• A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Most people don’t love Mondays, but Mabel does. Why? Because something very special and exciting happens every Monday morning, in this ode to garbage truck enthusiasts everywhere. Oh, I LOVE this. Seriously, I adore it. Man. I don’t think I’ve been giving Jashar Awan enough attention these last few years. This is a perfect encapsulation of what happens when someone finds that thing that they love and they then proceed to dedicate themselves to it heart, body, mind, and soul. The fact that Mabel’s family doesn’t understand her passion feels so very true, but does she care? She does not! She grabs that cereal, heads out the door, plants herself, and watches what she loves. And talk about a successful ending to the book! This is a book that gives kids, and the things that they love, respect. And on top of all of that, it reads aloud brilliantly. Betsy Bird 31 Days 31 lists

Every Monday Mabel appears on so many favourite 2025 book lists. Today I read it in a city bookstore. Sadly this book is a little too expensive here in Australia but if your budget does allow you to spend a little more money this is a terrific book to share with a preschool group - the final pages are especially fantastic. I have seen it listed between AUS$30 and AUS$47!

Captures the excitement of anticipation, the thrill of yearning realized, and truck love among the young. Kirkus

I was visiting a friend recently and her two-year-old grandson heard the distant sound of the garbage truck driving up their street. I could not hear it at all and nor could his grandmother until it was quite close but this little boy loves these trucks so much (as do heaps of children his age) that he could hear that truck and he knew it was their collection day!

Check out this post from my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything where she shares heaps of other books about garbage trucks - you could explore this as a fun mini theme in your preschool.

Finally you MUST pair Every Monday Mabel with the Bluey episode called Bin Night - it is one of my favourites! This episode also talks about phases of the moon and mum offers gentle advice to Bingo about how to make friends with the new kid in her preschool.