Once Upon a Banana

by Jennifer Armstrong

Everyday street signs act as deadpan captions for the slapstick happenings in this ingenious picture book that is hilariously told in street signs. Go!

The sign says: “Put litter in its place.” But someone isn’t paying attention. He drops a banana peel on the ground—and a series of comical slips, spills, and falls are set hilariously into motion. First the grocer, then the painter, next the bicycle messenger, and then—oh, no—not the baby in the carriage! An entire town turned upside down, all by a banana peel!

Caldecott Medalist David Small and award-winning author Jennifer Armstrong have created a roller-coaster ride of a picture book told in rhyming street signs that will tickle and delight readers from beginning to end, over and over again.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Animals, Fiction, Storytime, 1st Grade

48 pages, Paperback

First published October 24, 2006

About the author

Jennifer Armstrong learned to read and write in Switzerland, in a small school for English speaking children on the shores of Lake Zurich. The school library had no librarian and no catalog – just shelves of interesting books. She selected books on her own, read what she could, and made up the rest. It was perfect. As a result, she made her career choice – to become an author – in first grade. When she and her family returned to the U.S. she discovered that not all children wrote stories and read books, and that not all teachers thought reading real books was important. Nevertheless, she was undaunted. Within a year of leaving college she was a free-lance ghost writer for a popular juvenile book series, and before long published her first trade novel, Steal Away, which won her a Golden Kite Honor for fiction.

More than fifty additional novels and picture books followed, and before long she also tried her hand at nonfiction, winning an Orbis Pictus Award and a Horn Book Honor for her first nonfiction book, Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World. In late 2003 she will travel to the South Pole with the National Science Foundation to do research for a book on ice.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I just don't "get" although I can find nothing especially wrong with it. Judging from the cover art, I thought this would have been an '80s book so I was surprised to find it published in 2006. The premise is a fun one--all the havoc that one banana peel left on the sidewalk can have on the city--but the illustrations were a bit hectic and the lack of words (the text is mostly just signs around town) left me feeling a bit lost. I imagine this would be really fun for the right audience, though.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

For fans of Rube Goldberg machines. I liked how the chaos opened up the people's spirits to one another, with little damage actually done... but the little red roadster (?) that the garbage truck crashed into, at the end?... oh dear....

[Mary Harris · Rating 1 out of 5]

Citation: Once Upon a Banana, by Jennifer Armstrong. (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2006). 46p. Wordless.
Genre: Picture Book – Wordless
Summary: The story is about a monkey who steals a banana from a cart and subsequently eats the banana and throws the peel on the ground. The rest of the book details all of the people who are impacted by the banana peel.
A. One of the negative aspects I found during the story was that it was hard to follow and the illustrations were not very clear.
B. I found the book to be very confusing. It was hard to follow and I had to read it several times to figure out what was going on. If I had this much trouble figuring out the story I do not think a child would be able to easily figure it out.
C. For example, on page 11 you see a motorcycle with a husband and wife pull up next to the banana peel and then on the following page you see the husband has slipped on the peel and fallen into wet paint. The illustrations do not make the book easy to follow. I think the illustrations are too busy with other background activities going on that distract from the main storyline.
Curriculum Connection: I would only recommend this book for a child to read with their parent. I think the parent would need to guide the child as to what was going on in the story.

[Beth Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a literal picture book with no text at all. The pictures are delightful, following the exploits of a little monkey, and the chain of events he sets off when he steals a banana. It is a cumulative story, because each set of actions on the two-page spread causes effects that carry over to the next pages. There are so many things to look at, children will enjoy looking at the story multiple times, and I think it would be a great device for having a child tell you the story as well.Illustrated by David Small, the colors wash the pages, and the character's expressions are very descriptive. Other David Small books I like: Imogene's Antlers, When Dinosaurs Came with Everything, and One Cool Friend.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally amazing group read with kids. They were in hysterics from the expressions on the faces of everyone in the book, right down to the baby. There was shrieking involved. There is just so much going on in the illustrations, very little of which relies on text. The text that there is is all on signs, pointing the reader, along with the illustrations themselves, with their lines of movement, towards the disaster that pulls each page to the next. I think this book is a little too visually complex for kindergarteners, but for first, second, or even third grade it would be perfect. Truthfully I'm not sure who this book could be too young for, but there is a humor here that appeals uniquely to the six-to-eight crowd. A true classic.

[Jeana Wert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not think i would like this book when i first looked at it. There were hardly any words in it and i wondered how you could read this to children without any words. However, after looking at it a second time, my perspective changed. The pictures in the book could let a young child's imagination wonder. They could look at the pictures without having any influence by words and tell the classroom what would happen next, what they thought was going on in the picture, etc. This book would be a very good discussion starter. The pictures did an awesome job of showing what was happening even without words explaining it. Even the facial expressions of the people.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost wordless, the only words are on signs. My son thought the monkey would catch the baby. I sort of think that would have been a funnier ending.

[Savannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a great one for children who do not yet know how to read, or are just learning. It has no words, but you can easily follow the story line as you flip through the pages by using the illustrations. The pictures depict a story about a man who has a monkey that gets loose in the city. The monkey runs around the city, making everything become chaotic, such as causing people to spill paint, ride skateboards unexpectantly, and a banana truck to crash. Everything ends up okay in the end though, as everyone cleans things up and enjoy eating bananas together as they chat. I really liked the illustrations in this book and found it easy to follow along the storyline by using them. I think young students would really enjoy this book as well as they might think it is entertaining and would really like the illustrations and characters in it.

[Lynda Breithaupt-Muenzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Armstrong, Jennifer & Small, David (illustrator). Once Upon a Banana. (2006). Target Audience: 3-9 years old. The book cover alone gives you an idea that there might be mischief and excitement within the pages of this tale. A street performer's monkey starts a domino effect of incidents when he irresponsibly discards his banana peel. As one would guess, this causes many outlandish accidents with victims, their dogs and the monkey's owner chasing him all over town, creating more mishaps! The only words in this book are signs indicating places, rules, directions, and cautions. The monkey is oblivious to them all. The illustrations use color and detailed expressions to describe what is happening. I like the ending with bananas all over the place, uniting everyone in a positive way. Any child would find joy in creating a story to this almost wordless book. Caldecott Medal Award.

[Assal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once Upon a Banana has a portrait orientation and is filled with colorful watercolor illustrations. The story definitely begins prior to the title page therefore it is important to spend some time figuring out the setting and situation especially when reading the book with children. It is a wordless picture book hence it requires a bit more work from the reader to possibly read it multiple times, pay attention to all the details, follow specific characters around to see what happens to them on the proceeding page. I think that it is a change for those who like to quickly go through a book, it slows the reader down and allows them to appreciate all the parts of the book. For example, the signs are hilarious and the characters are almost always doing the opposite of what is instructed. Again the illustrations show movement, facial expression and catch the readers eye.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle

A surprisingly creative and unique book told entirely in street signs. This rhyming book features a little monkey who steals a banana and all of the chaos that ensues because of one action. Great book for looking at cause and effect. Also interesting look at following rules and obeying street signs, and what could happen if you don't.

I'll admit, you do have to really pay attention to the pictures. I found myself flipping back and forth to figure out what happened. But it was a great story. Might be helpful for children to read with a parent to assist them in following the chain of events.

Great illustrations. While they are very busy, they are also very entertaining.

Very good book.

[Villain E · Rating 4 out of 5]

A teacher friend of mine said that, when teaching my kids to read, don't just focus on the words, also teach them understanding. Like, ask them what they think is going to happen next. Once Upon A Banana is a perfect book for that. It's a silent book with a lot going on on each page but no wasted imagery. A monkey throws a banana peel on a city sidewalk, someone trips over it and creates a series of cartoony chaos and pratfalls. The action transitions dynamically. You could ask, "What's going to happen to the lady with the dogs?" She's going to lose control of them of course. The action is predictable for an adult, so it should be a good logic puzzle for the kids.

[Mama Bearian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who would have thought that a banana peel on a sidewalk would cause so much trouble? A monkey eats a banana and throws the peel on the sidewalk, and that is when the mess begins. People slip, trucks crash, etc. One thing leads to another, then another, all because of the banana peel.

This would be a good book to use when teaching making predictions based on illustrations, since each page hints at the disaster that will happen on the next 2-page spread.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oops! A banana peel leads the reader on a hilarious chaotic adventure through the city. The only text in the story is on street and building signs which makes the reader tell their own story much like in a wordless picture book. A map of the event locations in the back of the book would be useful for classroom activities.

[Kayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do not prefer this type of picture book. I personally find them hard to follow given that there is so much going on with each page. However, I do know that others learn differently and prefer different things. I could keep this book on my shelf for students that enjoy these types of books.

[Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting because it wasn't a wordless picture book, it had a couple of words, but most of its story was told through the pictures. I really enjoyed the style of the illustrations and the illustrator's choice in colors.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This funny book is wildly and hilariously illustrated. The whole story is told in illustrations and rhyming street signs. It's a cumulative story of sorts, as one thing leads to another and everything that happens is because of one little monkey tossing away a banana peel.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wordless picture book with a lot going on in every page. A monkey steals a banana which sets in motion all sorts of tumultuous events. The illustrations weren't my favorite, but they were all right.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lively chain-of-events narrative without words.

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

No words. Fun story! Bella (10) read it aloud to the family.

[Nicki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not a big fan of wordless books. This one was better than most.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit hard to follow the progress of the disaster, but still funny

[Chrissy Wassinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published: 2006
I really enjoyed the pictures in this book! There was always so much to look at and observe! Great detail! It can really show how one banana can change a whole day...

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids love this wordless book

Open ended

Colorful


Well presented


Recommended

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots to look at in this wordless page turner. The story is predictable but still fun!

[Shannonmde]

Wordless picture book.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wordless book featuring the misadventures of a street performer's monkey who goes after a banana and starts a chain reaction across a portion of the city.

[Claire Pocock · Rating 5 out of 5]

this picture book was darling. it makes me want to stop my life and just make picture books — the illustrations were gorgeous and told such an elaborate story even without words. 10/10!

[Angelica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Picture Book

Copyright Date: 2006

This was a cute book, but you have to truly be focused on looking at the pictures to understand what is happening in the story. Definitely felt like I was on a roller-coaster ride with this one.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this wordless title a series of events occur after a monkey throws a banana peel as his owner is chasing him in an urban setting.