Counting to Bananas: A Mostly Rhyming Fruit Book

by Carrie Tillotson, Estrela Lourenço, (Illustrator)

A hilarious, mostly-rhyming picture book about a banana and narrator who can’t quite agree on what their book is about. Perfect for fans of Mo Willems’ We Are in a Book and Adam Rex’s Nothing Rhymes With Orange!

When a narrator starts filling this story with fruit, Banana can’t wait to step into the spotlight. The book is called Counting to Bananas, after all. But as more and more fruits (and non-fruits) are added to the story, Banana objects. When will it be time for bananas?!

With laugh-out-loud text from debut author Carrie Tillotson and brought to life by illustrator Estrela Lourenço this is the story of a banana and narrator who have very strong opinions about what should (and should not!) be in this book.

Genres: Picture Books, Counting, Humor, Food, Animals, Storytime, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 12, 2022

Reviews

[Carrie Finison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable and LOL funny. There is so much humor here. The unexpected rhymes, Banana's increasingly annoyed interruptions, the insinuation that he might get *eaten*, the surprise ending. I can just hear little readers giggling over this one. The math element is a great bonus, but this book is all about the humor.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silly counting book using fruit, but with the occasional animal thrown in to keep the rhyme going. Poor banana is waiting his turn to be a star, will it ever come? A fun group read aloud. 3.5 stars

[Emily Carlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silly and funny, with rhymes and numbers and animals!

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usually I hate counting books but this one is actually cute!

Banana is waiting for his moment to be the star of this book. Unfortunately, the narrator makes some creative decisions that deviate from Banana’s expectations.

[Julie Hedlund · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is cute, clever, and heartwarming. I can't wait for the next installment from this talented author and illustrator duo!

[Angela Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bananas for this picture book!

Under the guise of a jaunty counting book, an enthusiastic banana battles with a nonchalant narrator to get their moment in the spotlight. Will all this punny persistence pay off ... and are the risks worth it?

A fun and funny meta book full of fruit and fowl, numbers and nonsense, and wacky and winning illustrations.

[Katie Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be the first to admit that I'm not generally a fan of counting books, having read HUNDREDS of them to my children when they were small. BUT...this book is truly charming and differs from other rhyming and counting books enough to hold even my interest! I love the mixture of fruit and animals and the fact that this book counts all the way up to 100 (which is great for those kids who are more advanced with their numbers. It also touches on skip counting (counting by 10's/20's) and the rhyming structure is great for helping kids anticipate the rhyme (great for early reading prep!). Estrela Lourenco's illustrations explode off the page, truly bringing this silly cast of characters to life. I highly recommend this book and will be adding it to my go-to list for children's gifts.

[Gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids (and adults!) will go bananas for the hilarious and clever COUNTING TO BANANAS! Banana is so excited about a fruit-counting book and she can’t wait for her starring role! But why does that tricky narrator keep adding animals to a fruit-counting book?! I LOVE counting books and this one is so much fun. With (mostly) rhyming, fruit puns, and plot twists, kids will love counting up to 20 and then by 20s up to 100! A perfect choice for classrooms, libraries, or at home. Adorable and silly! This one is bound to become a read-aloud favorite!

[Mrs_R_Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh-Out-Loud Funny. The little ones will love this one.

[Elayne Crain · Rating 5 out of 5]

As any Minions movie fan can tell you, there's something deliciously funny about the word "bananas." It's fun to say--even over and over. But the hilarious title of Counting to Bananas is just the beginning of the humor!

The loose storyline is that a limelight-seeking Banana sees the book title and thinks, "Finally! My time be a star!" But when the narrator's story ideas diverge from Banana's expectations, tensions flare, and Banana finds that maybe being the "star fruit" is not always what it's cracked up to be. The puns, (mostly) rhyme, and unexpected story twists and turns make any reading of this text fast-paced and delightful.

This picture book, though, ALSO has hilarious visual art from illustrator Estrela Lourenço. When someone can take the written phrase "3 oranges" and show it as something that makes you guffaw--, you know you are working with a comic superstar. Her character design of Banana is truly stan-able.

Highly recommend this book, esp. for the younger PB crew. Count on humor when reading this book!

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Banana is the star! But other fruit sensations steal the limelight. Carrie Tillotson's humorous tale and Estrela Lourenco's expressively colorful fruits and animals battle for stage time in this super funny counting book. Banana goes through a range of emotions from excited to frustrated and more. The brilliant art distinguishes each emotion felt by Banana. Readers will delight in the fun humor that fills the pages counting to Bananas. Supporting characters spring off the page with their lines of expression, story direction and animated feelings. Banana dresses like a star with a red bow tie and matching boots. My favorite rendition of Banana is the end pages that show Banana tucked in bed, arm around a stuffed monkey, fast asleep in the fruit bowl. Count this book as a winner!

[Mona Voelkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Counting to Bananas is a humorous picture book narrated by an engaging banana who is not-so-patiently waiting for his turn in the spotlight. The words and colorful pictures of fruit and animals come together so beautifully to make this an especially inviting read aloud.

Reading this book aloud made me smile! I also was uplifted by the bright colors in the sweetly detailed illustrations. I can see this as a book children would like to hear read aloud again and again.

I highly recommend this book! You will go bananas for COUNTING TO BANANAS!

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

ADORABLE! I mean, this book seriously has it all: Not only is it a hilarious story, starring a fantastic banana as the main character (illustrated BRILLIANTLY by Estrela Lourenco), but it even includes an educational element, counting from 1 to 20 and then by 20s up to 100, and even introduces kids to new types of fruits and animals. The entire book has so much vibrancy and movement and color. Kids will absolutely love this book (and parents won’t mind at all when their kids ask them to read it over and over! SUCH fun!)

[Amy Oberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look no further for a new book to read aloud during the 100th day of school--or whenever a group of young listeners/readers wants to combine counting, rhyming, and laughing! "Counting to Bananas: A Mostly Rhyming Fruit Book" is a story that incorporates a variety of literary trends, including humor, dialogue between the author/reader, and wordplay. A fun addition to classroom libraries and picture book collections.

Publication Date: 2022
Format: Picture book
Elements: Bold text, dialogue; breaking of the "fourth wall"
Connection/Topics: Counting, rhyming; animals, fruit

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A high energy picture book about a banana who is impatiently waiting to star in this rhyming counting book. At first Banana is frustrated at not being named, but then Banana gets annoyed when animals show up.
"13 melons 14 peaches
15 kumquats 16 leeches
Well, you didn't like the other animals . . .
If I have to see one more animal in a fruit book. I am going to go completely BANANAS!"
Then baboons turn up and everything really does go bananas! A laugh-out-loud funny picture book that will be fun to share and include in preschool units about numbers.

[Katie Hutchison Irion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Counting to Bananas: A Mostly Rhyming Fruit Book by Carrie Tillotson and Estrela Lourenco is a clever and unique take on a counting book. The book is supposed to be all about fruit but since there is no fruit to rhyme with figs, there are four pigs instead of another fruit. Banana, the interrupting narrator, is NOT happy about that. He wants fruit and only fruit. He does not get that. He keeps getting animals! He gets increasingly upset until one page where he is suddenly in danger and is totally fine without being in the story anymore. Very clever and great to read out loud.

[Kimberly Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Counting, rhyming, animals, fruit (including a frustrated banana who wants to be the star of it all), and a fun twist at the end...this book has it all! Carrie Tillotson’s hysterical text and brilliant pacing, paired with Estrela Lourenco’s laugh-out-loud illustrations, had me giggling at every page turn. If you’re looking for a book you can read over and over, that makes learning fun through heaps of humor, this one will not disappoint!

[Candace Spizzirri · Rating 5 out of 5]

With an opinionated narrator, a banana searching for stardom, and a cast of fruit and non-fruit characters, this hilarious rhyming picture book is sure to please kids and adults alike! I chuckled from the very first page. Carrie Tillotson's text is clever, laugh-out-loud fun. Estrela Lourenco's art is vibrant and engaging. Kids will reach for COUNTING TO BANANAS over and over again! Perfect silliness.

[Ellen L. Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Counting to Bananas, a clever counting book full of puns and fun, pits a banana who dreams of stardom against a clever narrator determined to keep counting and keep rhyming. The bouncy banana refuses to give up, even when barraged by bunches of unusual fruits that, alas, are not bananas, and even when the narrator switches to animals to keep rhyming! What’s a banana to do when the number of the prunes, baboons, and raccoons keeps increasing? What can a reader to do? Keep laughing!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

COUNTING TO BANANAS is delightful! The humor is enjoyable for both adults and kids. I appreciate the layers of learning, including counting, fruits, and animals. Banana's relatable character makes my little ones and me smile. Who hasn't just wanted to be the star of the show (or counting book, in this case)? I've read lots of counting books, and this one stands out for its humor and playful, charming illustrations. This book is fresh and funny!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Counting to Bananas: A Mostly Rhyming Fruit Book is an utterly delightful read-aloud! Author Carrie Tillotson cleverly and playfully packs in rhyme, counting, animals, fruit and a metafictional layer to make this debut an absolute hit. Estrela Lourenco's vibrant, colorful illustrations are spot-on for this book's silly yet educational vibe. Kids will definitely go bananas for this darling picture book with a spotlight-hogging Banana!

[Karen Yin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious from cover to end. I mean, look at Banana. So cute! So expressive! So demanding! I love metafiction, and this picture book doozies it up. Absolutely delightful. I can imagine kids giggling, wanting to turn the page to see what happens but not wanting to turn the page so they can enjoy the charming illustrations. Does Banana get what Banana wants? You'll have to buy the book and find out.

[Evelyn Bookless · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT A FUN read-aloud and (mostly) rhyming romp! Banana just can't wait for his turn to star in this counting book with a difference, but his turn takes far too long to come for Banana's liking. Kids will love the explosions of silliness on each page and seeing just what does end up happening to an agitated but lovable Banana. A highly recommended read of little ones (and their caregivers) everywhere.

[Becky Scharnhorst · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is pure fun! The main character is a disgruntled banana who is not happy about all the animals popping up in this fruit counting book. The illustrations are hilarious and perfectly capture Banana’s annoyance and disgust. The page with the leeches makes me giggle every time I read the book. Ew! Also, the many plot twists and surprises keep the reader turning the page. The counting layer is an added bonus that makes it a great choice for both the home and classroom.

[Roben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Numbers can be challenging to rhyme - especially when counting with fruit! Banana is slightly perturbed when the author has to insert animals here and there to get the rhymes to work - and by the blatant absence of bananas from the fruit bowl!
This would be an awesome book to read aloud during story time. Plus it just might be a gateway to introduce some new fruit into your life. Watch out for those baboons, though!

[Laura (Librarian) Masters · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a book entitled Counting to Bananas you can imagine that the main character, the banana, wants to be in the spotlight. All he wants is to have his turn but the narrator is counting with fruits other than bananas. Then the narrator has the gall to add animals into the coutning but did not add banana. Banana starts to get impatient but when apes are introduced to the story banana decides it is better not to in the book.

[Margaret Aitken · Rating 5 out of 5]

This bright, bouncy counting book is sure to become a favorite. The story follows a banana who longs to be the start of the 'show' but is quickly put in his place by an array of fruit and animals. The unexpected page turns will have everyone in fits of giggles!

The illustrations are full of life and fit the fun rhyming text perfectly. You'd have to be bananas to miss it!

[Donna Cangelosi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be prepared to laugh and learn! This bouncy, adorable picture book has it all—counting, rhyming, animals, fruit, and a hilarious banana in search of stardom. Carrie Tillotson’s rhyming text and Estrela Lourenco’s vibrant illustrations shine and will have you giggling with every page turn. Children will go bananas for this book and will want to read it over and over!

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is no ordinary counting book! Carrie Tillotson has reimagined the genre in a hilarious fashion. Children and adults will laugh as the main character, a banana, and the narrator work out their artistic differences in deciding what to count. Estrela Lourenço’s illustrations are beautiful and add extra layers of laughter. This is a book children will want to read over and over!

[Kristen Fouts · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first illustration to the final page, this book had me laughing the entire way. Banana is so full of personality! My favorite part is the elevated vocabulary that Tillotson used in this text. I appreciate books that don't speak down to children. This is a must-buy for any child's picture-book library.