Second Banana

Description

The kids in Mrs. Millet's class are putting on their annual nutrition pageant. Every kid plays a food. Every kid gets a line. It is a big deal. But this year, there aren't quite enough parts for everybody. So the class is cast: Fish, Cheese, Broccoli, Blueberry, Banana, and . . . Second Banana. Second Banana feels rotten. She wants to be the ONLY banana! In this deliciously original school story, Blair Thornburgh and Kate Berube recognize the dreadful disappointment that a casting list can cause-as well as the power of friendship, creative thinking, and a good attitude to turn a rotten situation into one that's quite appeeling. Showtime!

Blair Thornburgh is the author of several books for kids and teens. Her stage credits include "Girl #3" and "Grandma." A former kid herself, she now lives just outside of her hometown of Philadelphia. Kate Berube is a children's book illustrator and writer and the creator of Tater Totter, a zine for children. She is the authorillustrator of Hannah and Sugar and Mae's First Day of School, and lives in Portland, Oregon.

"An appealing picture book for reading aloud." -- "Booklist" "Punning aside (it's "an a-peeling" part, reports the father), this picture book ticks so many boxes in the realm of social-emotional learning that it will be useful across curricula."-- "School Library Journal" "The setup gives Thornburgh endless pun possibilities, and the rest of Berube's costumes. . .delight, too. A funny, gentle nudge in the direction of being a better banana."-- "Publishers Weekly" "Thornburgh's school story about making the best of a less-than-optimal situation and showing kindness and empathy for a new friend will ap-peel (sorry) to young readers and listeners, who will easily identify."-- "Kirkus Reviews"