Two Monkeys Plus One Banana?

Bibliography

Title: Banana

Author: Ed Vere

Illustrator: Ed Vere

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Year: 2007

ISBN#: 0679904018

Plot Summary

Add two monkeys plus one banana. Does it equal a recipe for disaster or not?  When monkey in red finds a banana he is delighted but so is his friend, monkey in blue. Asking, crying, yelling and taking do no good. One simple word changes everything. Both monkeys get a piece of the banana and everybody is happy in the end.

Critical Analysis

This delightful picture book by Ed Vere uses bright colored pages, vibrant ink drawn characters and a simple, two-word, dialogue to introduce children to the sometimes difficult concept of sharing. The hard cover and heavier, paper make this a durable book for the younger crowd. The simple dialogue and expressive pictures lend themselves to lots of discussion about feelings. Vere’s use of bold colors and lines convey the turbulent emotions little ones sometimes feel when learning how to share with their friends. 

Awards

2011 Choice Books Award

“A fun choice for sharing with a group.” –School Library Journal

“Minimalist text gains expression through varied punctuation and typeface, while speech balloons and other comic-book conventions (not to mention one spectacular simian tantrum) evoke a certain pigeon. Bold, expressive colors and exuberant lines characterize the artwork.” –Kirkus Reviews

Connections

Great book for teaching youngsters about sharing. Read together. Talk about what the monkeys are feeling. Discuss appropriate sharing behavior. This is a great book to recommend to parents that are requesting books about sharing for their young children. 

Use in the classroom when discussing punctuation, conveying meaning in writing and use of illustrations to express emotion. How does the author's use of various types of punctuation and illustrations express different emotions?