Yellow Is a Banana

by John Himmelman

Are bananas yellow . . . or is yellow a banana? Learn all about yellow—and other colorful things—in this rollicking picture book from John Himmelman, author of the Bunjitsu Bunny series

That yellow is a banana. No, a banana is yellow. These purples are grapes. No, these grapes are purple! This orange is a pumpkin. No, that pumpkin is orange! And this orange is . . . orange?

With two charming siblings and a fresh, limited palette that allows each featured color to really shine, young readers will learn as they laugh in this side-splittingly funny, unique picture book. Approaching the concept of color, and the creative ways in which young children assign names to things in the world around them, with a fun, playful tone, this picture book is perfect for group or individual read-aloud story times.

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Food, Humor, Childrens, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published October 7, 2025

About the author

John Himmelman is the author and illustrator of more than sixty books for children, including Chickens to the Rescue. He lives in Connecticut with his family.

According John's Facebook page, he has been "making up stories and scribbling pictures since I could hold a crayon in my hand. It became my job in 1981, when my first book, "Talester the Lizard" was published during my last year in college (School of Visual Arts)....It behooves a writer to try and turn what interests them into their work. I've been fortunate to do that with my love of nature, with books - for adults and children - focusing on different natural history topics."

Reviews

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This perfectly funny book about colors and siblings is a winner. A big sister tries to correct her little brother as he tries to name foods. He says, “These purples are grapes!” and she says, “These grapes are purple.” But as the little one continues to get the order wrong, big sister’s composure falters and she starts getting it wrong too. He says, “These greens is peas!” and she replies, “AAAGH! No! These peas is green! I means, these peas are green!…” Finally, they come to an orange. What’s a big sister to do with a word that’s a noun and an adjective?

Himmelman nails the combination of dialogue and art, as the sister and brother explore colors together. The playful marker-like digital art shows the sibling in black, white and light blue, while the foods are in vivid color. The font changes color for words denoting color, which is an opportunity to point out words and concepts. The funniest part is watching the sister try to keep her best teaching mode as her exuberant little sibling is all about discovery. As she gets more harried, her hair gets wild, she loses a shoe and she has a little tantrum. She is never angry, and clearly loves the kid, so readers feel entitled to laugh. In the end, the orange kind of saves the day. What a fun book to read aloud to kid who has a toddler sibling.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unusual book but one that feels taken directly from day-to-day interactions with toddlers who are acquiring words at the speed of sound.

Note to librarians & teachers: This one might be a tricky read aloud (I got tripped up reading the book just to myself, but laughed all the same). YMMV.

Themes: colors, fruits, humor, little siblings, wordplay

Vibes: cool old-timey feeling illustrations; silly/frustrating/over the top sibling wordplay around naming colors & fruits

Ages: toddler-K
Pub year: 2025

[Lauren M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one will make your eyes go a bit wonky; a fun book for some silly reading!

There's some language building here, particularly with adjectives!

And I feel the sister here, slowing losing it and being more and more disheveled as her brother goes on... she represents me working in public service.

[Constance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hysterical and adorable, this deceptively simple book with sparse text manages to be so funny while also saying a lot about sibling relationships. And colors! This would be a great readaloud and a wonderful addition to any picture book collection. I love it!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Color or Food ST. Lord. Kinda drove me nuts the backwards way of saying something is a color. Bu5 I think preschoolers will love it, and it's an effective, new way of talking about color and what things are colors.

[DaNae · Rating 3 out of 5]

A silly take on a concept book.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun word play and great illustrations!

[Karol · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun!
Terrific to read out loud and talk about colors.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

great for read alouds

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is creative and playful, and it's great for teaching kids about colors. The sibling dynamics are funny and realistic.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

want to try this in PK storytime, or maybe with kindergarteners. They way it plays with language is instructive and hilarious.

[Carole Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yellow Is a Banana by John Himmelman is a playful, laugh-out-loud picture book that flips color concepts on their heads, capturing how young children joyfully make sense of the world.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was silly but entertaining because it is non-sensical. I love silly and childish jokes.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids thought this was the funniest book they'd ever heard. And I just loved how frazzled her hair got as it went on.