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Children's Fiction Chapter Books

Brianna Banana, Helper of the Day

by (author) Lana Button

illustrated by Suharu Ogawa

Publisher
Orca Book Publishers
Initial publish date
Feb 2025
Category
Chapter Books, Humorous Stories, Emotions & Feelings, Friendship
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781459840010
    Publish Date
    Feb 2025
    List Price
    $8.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781459840034
    Publish Date
    Feb 2025
    List Price
    $7.99

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Where to buy it

Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels

  • Age: 6 to 8
  • Grade: 1 to 3
  • Reading age: 6 to 8

Description

“Reminiscent of Junie B. Jones. Well-meaning Brianna’s smart narration relates her struggles coping with family upheaval, bullying, and frequent communication snafus and misunderstandings with adults as well as her yearning for a best friend. Grayscale illustrations by Ogawa evoke Raina Telgemeier vibes and bring funny scenes of this charming read by Button to vivid life.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

I'm Brianna Ross. And what I love is:

  1. Kicking leaves.
  2. Digging soft sand.
  3. Helping others.

What I don't love is:

  1. Having zero friends in my class.
  2. Getting in trouble every single day.
  3. Being called Brianna Banana.

Nine-year-old Brianna struggles to fit in. She can be impulsive and distracted, and sometimes she loses her temper, but she's also thoughtful and brave and ready to be a friend. Brianna thinks that being chosen for classroom helper duty will make the other kids like her. When new girl Rumi is named Helper of the Day instead, Brianna is disappointed. But could a new friend be just around the corner?

About the authors

LANA BUTTON a grandi dans la petite ville frontalière de St. Stephen, au Nouveau-Brunswick. Elle a une formation d’actrice et d’éducatrice de la petite enfance. Ses albums illustrés ont été en nomination pour plusieurs récompenses, dont les prix Blue Spruce, Shining Willow, le Jean Throop IODE Award et le Rainforest of Reading. Elle est bénévole pour les organisations littéraires IBBY Canada, First Book et One World Schoolhouse. Lana et son mari ont trois filles adultes et vivent à Burlington, en Ontario.

 

LANA BUTTON grew up in the tiny border town of St. Stephen, New Brunswick. She has a background in acting and early childhood education. She writes for young children, and her picture books have been shortlisted for numerous awards. She enjoys reading books out loud whenever she gets the chance.

Lana Button's profile page

Suharu Ogawa is a Toronto-based illustrator. Her love for drawing started in a kindergarten art school after being kicked out of calligraphy class for refusing to convert to right-handedness. Formally trained in art history and cultural anthropology, she worked for several years as a university librarian until her passion for illustration called her out of that career and into the pursuit of a lifelong dream. Since then, Suharu has created illustrations for magazines, public art projects and children's books, including Why Humans Work: How Jobs Shape Our Lives and Our World in the Orca Think line. She also teaches illustration at OCAD University in Toronto.

 

Suharu Ogawa's profile page

Editorial Reviews

“Depicts a realistic view of the inner workings of a high-energy child who just wants to be accepted. Ogawa’s black-and-white illustrations add charm and movement to the prose. A chapter book about friendship and SEL that will be a great fit for children’s collections.”

School Library Journal (SLJ)

★ “Reminiscent of Junie B. Jones. Well-meaning Brianna’s smart narration relates her struggles coping with family upheaval, bullying, and frequent communication snafus and misunderstandings with adults as well as her yearning for a best friend. Grayscale illustrations by Ogawa evoke Raina Telgemeier vibes and bring funny scenes of this charming read by Button to vivid life.”

Publishers Weekly, starred review

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