Find a book
Donate
book cover

Would You Like a Banana?

by Yasmeen Ismail

Interest age: 2 to 5

Published by Walker Books, 2020

  • Funny
  • Picture books

About this book

The gorilla in this book is hungry, but she doesn’t want the banana she’s been offered. She doesn’t like bananas – they’re too wonky and bendy. Despite the attempts of the kind narrator who tries everything – making suggestions for delicious combinations with honey and ice cream, wearing a banana on your head and eating it in a bun – the gorilla is having none of it. Except, when the banana is taken away, it suddenly becomes more appealing…

Reminiscent of Dr Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham and Lauren Child’s I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato, Ismail’s take on the fussy eating theme uses a mix of bold, expressive illustration and photography which brings a light, fun energy to what can sometimes be a frustrating experience for parents. Ismail is incredibly skilled at recognising, honouring and celebrating the emotional life of toddlers, and Would You Like A Banana? is a fantastic addition to Nuts!, Joy and the Kiki and Bobo books.

About the author

Yasmeen Ismail is an Irish writer and illustrator living in Bristol, making children's picture books. As much as she would like to just dash off a book, it has to have some worth. So she's compelled to write and draw to try, just a little bit, to make a tiny difference. She wants her stories to uplift everyone who reads them.

Yasmeen enjoys celebrating differences and giving her characters the confidence to be who they want to be, regardless of expectations. She says 'I have to keep in mind that whatever I create is going into the hands of a small child, and as such I have a responsibility to that little person. We all have a responsibility to them. And we should take that seriously.' Yasmeen writes and illustrates most of her books.

More books like this

Explore our Bookfinder
Share this page Twitter Facebook LinkedIn