The Biography of Bananas

by Rachel Eagen

The Biography of Bananas reveals the murky past and uncertain future of the tasty banana. Almost unknown in North America before the 1870s, bananas quickly became a popular fruit with a rocky history. Colorful photographs and maps help explain who grows your bananas, how they are harvested, and why the banana may soon become extinct. Other topics include - What is a commodity? - the spread of bananas through trade routes - where and how bananas are grown - the growth of the banana plantations and banana republics - technical and genetic improvements to the banana, including new varieties - environmental issues such as land use and pesticides - why bananas are becoming extinct Teacher's guide available.

32 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2005

Reviews

[Stacy Slater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bananas are probably not a topic students think much about, but this informative book by Rachel Egan is certainly worth including in a nonfiction classroom library. The history of banana cultivation is included, as are the various types of bananas popular around the world, a discussion of agricultural techniques for growing bananas, and a listing of pests and diseases that threaten the banana plant. Most interesting, however, is the section detailing the growth of the corporate-owned banana plantations and the political influence those corporations have had over the past century.
The Biography of Bananas is part of a series from Crabtree Publishing Company. Other commodities in the series include vanilla, chocolate, rice, spices, and sugar. They could easily be used as part of an exploration about the real cost of foods in today's global economy. The manual labor required to bring bananas to supermarkets across North America and Europe is brought to life by photographs of workers in tropical climates. In fact, most of the photographs are of far-flung places, helping to illustrate the exotic nature of this everyday fruit.

[Catherine Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good to learn about bananas!!

[Amy Stipp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I know a lot about bananas!
This is great for 4th and up!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the title. :) Everything you need to know about bananas.