Banana

by Zoey Abbott

Overview

A quirky and hilarious picture book parable about parental distraction and a daughter's clever solution.

My dad is the best.
 
We love hanging out together.
 
Recently, he got this banana. At first, we had a great time with the banana — it does cool stuff and it’s really fun.
 
But lately he’s spending too much time with the banana. He’s distracted, and he’s not enjoying the things he used to enjoy, like hanging out with me.
 
I don’t think this banana is good for him.
 
It’s time to take action.
 
Zoey Abbott tackles parental distraction in a quirky and hilarious way in this parable about too much of a good thing. With her trademark wit and engaging illustrations, she introduces a very wise kid and a not-so-wise parent who eventually see eye to eye in a story that will delight readers of all ages.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780735271425
Publisher:	Tundra
Publication date:	03/07/2023
Sold by:	Random House
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
Lexile:	AD500L (what's this?)
File size:	46 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

ZOEY ABBOTT is a graduate in Women's Studies and History from Smith College. She spent four years living and painting in Japan. Zoey is the author and illustrator of I Do Not Like Yolanda and she currently lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, kids and two dogs: Carrots and Maple. Zoey has nothing against bananas. She likes them, actually! They also happen to be one of the only fruits that do not make her throat and ears itch.
 
 

Editorial Reviews

01/23/2023

What happens when a single father’s obsession comes between him and his child? In a metaphorical picture book by Abbott (Pig and Horse and the Something Scary), the item is a growing oblong fruit. As the pages open, the white-presenting parent and child share wonderful times. After a swim at the pool, “I do Dad’s hair. Then he makes me into a burrito.” Loose pencil drawings and risograph printing tinted in reds, yellows, and blues give the pages a handcrafted feel. When the two stop at a banana store one day and Dad “cannot resist” a purchase, things are good for a while: “We take the Banana everywhere,” the child says, as the two are shown feeding it a sandwich. But as the banana balloons to alarming proportions, Dad’s attention is consumed by it. At the pool, it looms on the deck chair, physically separating the duo. It’s time for decisive action, and the youth’s next move is both simple and final. It’s a visually striking allegory about the dismay and jealousy a child may feel over change—and this young protagonist’s triumph gives the tale a sense of dark, unexpected gratification. Ages 3–7. Agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

"A cautionary tale about overreliance on devices that’s sure to be the apple of many readers’ eyes." —Kirkus Reviews

"[A] visually striking allegory about the dismay and jealousy a child may feel over change — and this young protagonist’s triumph gives the tale a sense of dark, unexpected gratification." —Publishers Weekly

"Abbott succeeds in conveying the see-saw nature of childhood. One minute, a parent is attentive to your needs. Then, he becomes immersed in some pointless activity. Naturally, readers might see a reverse metaphor in the story, as any parent frustrated by a child’s inattentiveness will recognize. In Abbott’s world, the generations are not in contradiction; they might exchange roles." —Imaginary Elevators

From the Publisher

2022-11-29
What to do when a fancy new object intrudes on family time?

A child and their father are a perfect pair: “I love my dad. He’s the best at the pool. He rates my handstands. I rate his dives. We play shark games. When it’s time to go home, I do Dad’s hair.” But things change when the pair walk by a Banana store. Dad is transfixed by his new, seemingly magical Banana (the artwork shows the two riding a flying Banana, using it as a saw, and more). The acquisition changes the father, taking up more of his time. Finally frustrated, the child acts…by eating the banana. Dad throws a bit of a fit, but after some family time, the duo get back to the important things in life, like going to the pool. As an allegory for modern technology, the story is strong, reminding readers of all ages that useful electronic gadgets shouldn’t take priority over daily social interactions. While the book’s solution might be an oversimplification, it should still spark healthy conversations in families about when it’s time to unplug. Rendered in pencil and risograph, the soft illustrations have a classic yet modern feeling. Both parent and child have dark hair and skin the white of the page; background characters are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A cautionary tale about overreliance on devices that’s sure to be the apple of many readers’ eyes. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews