Second Banana by Blair Thornburgh

Synopsis:

“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 ap-peel-ing. Showtime!”

Review

Second Banana by Blair Thornburgh is a wonderful way to show kids that sometimes life can be disappointing, but you have control over how it makes you feel. And sometimes, thinking outside the box will help you find a solution for your rotten situation!

Theatre casting, being chosen for a sports team, or being assigned a group project is something that kids understand. And not getting your first choice is really, really hard. What I really enjoyed in this story was that although her teacher really didn’t understand her frustration and her family tried to help cheer her up, it wasn’t until our main character helped out a classmate that she started feeling better.

This story is a great conversation starter for teaching kids that it’s okay to be disappointed but to try your hardest at whatever you’re given. And maybe, helping someone else might just make you feel a little better!

Need to Know:

Title: Second Banana
Author: Blaire Thornburgh
Illustrator: Kate Berube
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 11, 2020
Page Number: 32 pgs.

This review works perfectly for my recent Healthy Eating booklist!