Banana Bop!

This buoyant banana-oriented board book from Boynton (Hippos Remain Calm) celebrates what every kid inherently knows: that bananas are delicious as well as supremely silly. This is especially true when the fruit is being feted by four monsters rendered in the creator’s signature style. As the work opens, three large beings with round noses, pointy horns, and fluffy pale fur appear alongside one considerably smaller entity, who proudly adds a final bit of zhuzh to the bigger critters’ declamatory dialogue. “Banana. Banana. Banana,” the larger three announce, each holding a banana aloft— “BOP!” adds the little monster. As the pages turn, the crew demonstrates the fruit’s versatility, showing how bananas can stand in for frowns, smiles, and even telephones (“ARE YOU THERE? HELLO? HELLO?// We’re calling from our MONSTER SHOW!” say the big monsters, while the small one chimes in “LA LA!”). The book ends by asking the reader to count to four while the monsters eat the fruits, gleefully placing the peels on their heads. The snacking may result in “BYE-BYE!” bananas, but the target audience will almost assuredly demand further reads. Ages up to 5. (Jan.)

Update: This review has been adjusted to reflect the book's final text.