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40 pp.
| Viking
| July, 2019
|
TradeISBN 978-0-425-28881-8$17.99
(3)
PS
After a child's remote-control robot flies away in front of an apartment building, the building's residents try to help retrieve it ("My broom may reach that bot!"). The book's tall trim size reflects the building's narrow verticality. Yang's blocky, mid-century modern art aesthetically complements this dynamic, easy-to-read story that's half wonderfully wacky caper and half salute to community.
(4)
PS
Illustrated by
Greg Pizzoli.
Using rhyme and wordplay, two children, a dog, and a cat highlight different things you can do with the titular fruit in each book. While many of the descriptions are clever and creative, others are peculiar and force the rhyme (e.g., "You can snuggle it [an apple], or juggle it, or put it in a pile"). Still, the inventiveness and cartoonlike illustrations should engage young children. Review covers these titles: What's a Banana? and What's an Apple?
(3)
PS
Betty, a hungry baby gorilla, wants to eat a banana, but it won't open; a tantrum ensues. A friendly toucan assures her that such strong emotions are not necessary and offers his assistance. Then another banana-centric problem arises... Bright spreads full of action and humor feature bulky Betty and banana-shaped Mr. Toucan, a pair whose dynamic will be familiar to preschoolers and their parents.
32 pp.
| Candlewick
| September, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-1-7636-7059-7$15.99
(4)
PS
One night, Little Mouse wants "my very own piece of the moon." The next day she mistakes a fallen banana for a slice of moon and digs in--until she feels remorse at having disfigured the moon. It's a slight tale made richer by the book's sculpted corners and well-placed cut-outs, which both invite the youngest readers to guess what's next.
24 pp.
| Holt
| November, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8050-9214-1$12.99
(3)
PS
One monkey has a banana, another monkey wants it. With just two words (banana and please), Vere traverses an entire world of emotions which even the youngest listeners will recognize. From the Warhol-style endpapers to the monkeys themselves, Vere uses bright colors and raw-edged lines to reinforce the wildly variant feelings depicted in each spread.