If I Was a Banana

by Alexandra Tylee, Kieran Rynhart (Illustrations)

This boy's-eye-view of the everyday brings alive all the wonder and oddity of the world inside our own heads. It is simple and funny but resonates long afterward, and begs to be read again.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Philosophy, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2016

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this annoying that the title and every sentence says, 'if I was' that should be 'if I were'. I didn't like the illustrations and I found the storyline weak/non existent.

[SAMAR ♌︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

They really do a good job For the illustrations.
It's so charming.💞

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

“If I Was a Banana” by Alexandra Tylee, Kieran Rynhart (Illustrations)

Unique illustrations. To be honest, I was expecting more from the story. The final sentence is the intended result, “I think of all the boys I could be, I am most comfortable being me.”
Great to see NZ literature being published. ***

[David Haberlah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like the book's approach to daydreaming that compares an imaginary boy with other life forms only to conclude that he is most comfortable just the way he is. I guess this is a muddled salutogenic attempt to console some children in an identity crisis? In any case, the book is full of questionable moments like whales being called fishes, free African elephants, volcanoes that don't erupt (not to hurt anyone!). The central cloud page presents perhaps the most nuanced allegory, but it still falls short of encouraging any meaningful self reflection. The illustrations are good except that the face of the boy remains schematic with a rather weird smile.

[Bookrapt (Est. 1983) · Rating 5 out of 5]

For New Zealand author Alexandra Tylee, owner and chef at “Pipi” restaurant in Hawkes Bay, and author of two cookbooks, If I was a Banana is her first children’s book.

The story revolves around a boy’s dreamy thoughts of everyday objects and things he sees and knows about. The catch phrase If I was…. takes the reader to a world of wonderment as the boy ponders about what it would be like to be a banana, a cow, a star, or perhaps a tree.

'If I was a cloud it would be great to be, a big black storm cloud and shoot lightning thunder, and hail all over the place.'

The book comes to a positive conclusion with the verse, If I was a little boy…

The poetic style of writing is beautifully matched with Kieran Rynhart’s skilful illustrations. They are very realistic, and the soft muted colours conjure up the dreamy atmosphere of this book.

A delightful hard back publication that could spark more “If I was…” scenarios amongst the readers.

Reviewed by Judy Sail (Bookrapt)
http://www.bookrapt.org.nz/reviews/20...

[Sasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute. Not very memorable or exciting, but definitely gets points for positive messaging. I like that the boy runs through all different scenarios of what and who he could be, before settling on just being himself. Very strong and admirable moral, if a bit long-winded and predictable getting there.

[Mary Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book I thought it was so good. I liked how he was the very best of whatever he decided on being. At the end he decided it was best just to be himself. I would use this in my class to encourage my students to be the best they can be.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odd little book plays upon the common childhood pastime of imagining oneself as something else. Some of the passages get a little surreal, obviously.

Vegan parents note: the child's imagining himself as a cow is prompted by the illustration on a bottle of cow's milk.

[Sushie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about thinking of yourself as non-human things with characteristics of your choice. I could imagine it being fun in a kid's art or writing group.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A child’s sense of wonder is rich and enthralling. Their daydreams and fanciful notions are full of hope and possibility. If I Was a Banana opens on a wet, ordinary day, with an adult and child out for a walk. They look through the window display of a fruit shop, and the young boy bursts forward to say, “If I was a banana I would be that one, all yellow and fat and full of banana.” Each subsequent page spread shares another thoughtful notion. “If I was a mountain…If I was a cloud…If I was an elephant…If I was a spoon…If I was a star…” The boy’s explanations are poetic, tender, and adorably funny. We get to know him a little bit more as the story unfolds, and we got to know more about each other. My two bigs couldn’t contain themselves.

Haz: “If I was a rocket, I’d fly up high, so high, even higher than the birds. I’d explore places that no one has ever been before.” Iz: “If I was a cat, I’d be a black cat with white patches on my eye and toes. I’d purr a lot so everyone would give me tuna for breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday, and I’d play tag with sparrows. I wouldn’t eat them.”

The ordinary becomes extraordinary through the eyes of a curious child. Tyler’s story and Rynhart’s illustrations work hand in hand to honour this truth. We see a moment of inspiration in the boy’s day, and then we’re taken into his mind, watch his train of thought evolve. Colours are soft. The vignetting on panelled illustrations focus our attention on the delightful details and enhance that dream concept. Although there’s a lot of dreaming and ifs, at no point do you get the feeling that the boy is unhappy or discontent. Quite the opposite. The heart-warming ending (especially since it's the first time we see the boy's face) conveys his self-confidence, an inner strength we hope all kids can possess.

[Haley Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fiction picture book is about this kid who is thinking about what kind of objects he would be if they were someone else. At the end he discovers that he would just much rather be himself. I think this is a very good lesson for children to learn. You can dream to be other people or objects but after all is said and done, being yourself is the best thing you can be. If this book is used in a classroom, I would have the kids make masks and then explain that being themselves is better than anything else they could dream of being because God made them just the way they are.

[Storywraps · Rating 5 out of 5]

This adventurous and beautiful debut resonates long afterward and begs to be read repeatedly.

The book was chosen because:

"If I was a Banana is strong and simple. We have chosen it because it so encapsulates the world and voice of a child. " -Julie Marshall

The little boy who is the main character looks around his world and imagines the "what ifs" that are swirling around inside his head and paints word pictures of his thoughts to the reader. This book beautifully captures the magic that a child can find in common objects and day-do-day encounters. He pontificates on bananas, clouds, toys, breakfast, and my favourite, the stars.

"If I was a star I would be that one,
the little one,
just above that other star.
It is smiling at me
and is quite different from all the others."

These simple encounters spark his imagination and result in a lovely mix of the poetic and the prosaic touching the heart of a child and an adult as well.

"If I were a cow I would want to be the one standing over there. That cow makes you feel like there is nothing more important than being a black cow standing on green grass."


This book perfectly encapsulates a child's voice and world view. It is simple and funny but has depth. The evocative illustrations are both technically skilled and emotionally resonant. The words and illustrations work perfectly together to make a whole greater than its parts. I highly recommend this book.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this uniquely philosophical picture book, a boy's thoughts wander into notions about what he might be various things such as a banana, a mountain or even a cloud. As his thoughts head in all sorts of interesting directions, he identifies some of the reasons he'd be this or that and often rejects some of the ideas, eventually landing on the realization that he is "most comfortable being me" (unpaged). I liked the imaginative nature of his ruminations since I felt as though I was almost inside his head and following his stream of consciousness. I also liked the message of self-acceptance and self-empowerment: We are exactly where we need to be and who we need to be right now. Any changes can be managed later. The colors in this picture book from New Zealand are eye appealing and complement the text quite well. Although most readers will appreciate the book on an initial read, it is worth savoring and returning to for additional readings and considerations.

[Jennifer Gallman · Rating 4 out of 5]

You will absolutely fall in love with the child in this book--his imagination is endless, and his reasoning for wanting or not wanting to be a certain animal or object is adorable. After seeing bananas being sold on the first page, the young boy wonders what it would be like to be a banana, or a mountain, or a ladybug. For each item, he provides a first-person narration of why it would or not be a good thing to be that item. The one that I agree with the most is the fish--nobody wants to be a fish stuck in a tank. Through each "If I was" scenario, the voice of the narrator begins to echo children around this age--full of questions and curiosity. The vast imagination is met with gorgeous illustrations that express the child's wonder and portray each animal or object with precise likeness. Perfect for young readers who like to dream and think about the "what ifs" on a lazy afternoon.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book about using your imagination with really nice illustrations.

[Briere Lohnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thinking through what he would like to be if he were something else, a young boy describes various concepts revolving around being that "just right" sort of feeling. He proceeds to relay exactly what kind of feeling these objects or animals projects: flying without a care in the world like a ladybug, being an elephant, big and strong and free. In the end, this 2016 Concept book describes self-acceptance, and the idea that you are who you are, just how you were meant to be. Overall, I think it's message, writing, and illustrations do a wonderful job of showing this. Additionally, it would be good to use in teaching this concept to young students.

[Danielle H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really touched me. I read it over again from the beginning as soon as finishing it. I love how much it seemed like the voice of a child while I was reading it, how I could imagine similar sentiments coming from the mouths of my students, while being very profound and poetic. Would love to try this as a writing lesson in the future.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful, pitch-perfect depiction of a boy's sense of wonder with everyday things and his fanciful notions about them. Richly textured illustrations created in pencil and oil pastel provide unusual perspectives and complement the dreamy, reflective tone.

[Maria]

This was a very cute book. It kind of sounds like it's all about this little boy wanting to be a banana but that is not what it is. The little boy goes through several things that he would like to be. Some examples of this would be a bird, a lion, a tree, a spoon, a cloud, and several other things. At the end, he decides that he should just stay a little boy and if he has to be a little boy, he is most comfortable with being himself.

I loved this book because it shows that people sometimes want to be other things but in the end, we have to be ourselves and that's the best thing to be.

I would use this to show kids that it is a good thing to be yourself!!

[Savanna Bitting · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I Was a Banana is a book about a little boy who chooses different things he would be and why. I loved the illustrations in this book, I could tell it was made from color pencil. The ending is really sweet!
I could read this book to boost my children confidence.