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Annie Bananie
Annie Bananie
There's never been anyone quite like Annie Bananie. So when she has to move away, her playmate cannot believe it -- until she realizes that even far apart, they can still be best friends. Children's Choices for 1988 (IRA/CBC)
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 11, 2011
This is an excellent book to use for teaching children that goodbyes aren't easy, but can be endured. There was one line that I was uncomfortable with "Made me brush my teeth with mud,/Sign my name in cockroach blood" but that is only because I was reading to preschoolers who might be a little freaked out by this. Overall this is a fun, rhythmic, silly, and very perfectly juvenile story of two girls dealing with being apart now that one has moved away.
March 27, 2013
This is a wonderful tale about friendship and the emotional upheaval when a best friend moves away. The rhyming narrative and colorful illustrations by Laura Cornell combine to evoke a child's world and her ode to a true friend.
It would be a great book to read with a young child who is having difficulty dealing with a move or the idea of a friend moving away. We really enjoyed reading this book together, although I was a little nervous that it would only serve to make our oldest sad, since she has moved away from friends and she's had to deal with her best friend moving away, too. (She's a bit sensitive!) Still, it was a fun book to read aloud and helps children to cherish the friends they have.
It would be a great book to read with a young child who is having difficulty dealing with a move or the idea of a friend moving away. We really enjoyed reading this book together, although I was a little nervous that it would only serve to make our oldest sad, since she has moved away from friends and she's had to deal with her best friend moving away, too. (She's a bit sensitive!) Still, it was a fun book to read aloud and helps children to cherish the friends they have.
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November 24, 2015I do like this book that teaches about separation. No one want to be separated from his/her parents, guardians or best friends. Through this reading, young children should learn that separation is part of their daily life, and must realize that sometimes they have to live without the one they are the most attached to. I recommend to read this book to young children (2 to 3 years old). Knowing that separation is very difficult to manage especially for young children, this book may help them calm down, and wait patiently for their beloved ones to come back.
February 20, 2013
This was one of my favorite books growing up! I never dreamed that I would be like Annie, though, and have to move away from my best friend. We have been doing a lot of "rememberings" over this past week and this book came into mind=) A great, funny, cute, story with a really good, relatable (at least for me and I'm not just saying that because I'm called Annie), if not a little sad, message.
October 9, 2018
A fun read-aloud, with lots of rhythm and funny [and gross] memories of things these two friends did together - the kinds of things that make or break a friendship!
When Annie Bananie has to move, it is clear that the promises made to be play together forever will be broken.. but not by choice. Annie shares all the reasons her friend can never forget her, which boosts her confidence and self-worth. Though they may not be together forever, they can always be friends in their hearts... that seems to be the message. At the end they even encourage one another to make new friends and write. I like the suggestion of writing, which is often lost in this technological world. Though it might happen now on facebook, the idea of actual words and making the effort to keep in touch is something most children might not think to do. But this book gives them that idea clearly.
The ending though makes it clear that, just to be sure, Annie wants to be the best friend ever to be had, that another should not take her place... a feeling most of us can relate to at some point, especially when young.
The art is delightful and matches the feeling of fun and even wackiness in the antics of these two friends.
When Annie Bananie has to move, it is clear that the promises made to be play together forever will be broken.. but not by choice. Annie shares all the reasons her friend can never forget her, which boosts her confidence and self-worth. Though they may not be together forever, they can always be friends in their hearts... that seems to be the message. At the end they even encourage one another to make new friends and write. I like the suggestion of writing, which is often lost in this technological world. Though it might happen now on facebook, the idea of actual words and making the effort to keep in touch is something most children might not think to do. But this book gives them that idea clearly.
The ending though makes it clear that, just to be sure, Annie wants to be the best friend ever to be had, that another should not take her place... a feeling most of us can relate to at some point, especially when young.
The art is delightful and matches the feeling of fun and even wackiness in the antics of these two friends.
November 22, 2025
Losing a best friend because they have to move away is a very real thing. I think this book captures that desperate essence and those complex feelings really well. Especially the end.
I will also say that there were a few things that hit me wrong. The picture of a young girl in a tiny bikini-even though I understand it’s capturing a feeling and what days are like when you are playing with and spending time with a best friend as a kid. Cockroach blood gave me the willies. And the body image concerns with their trying to change things about their appearances-although it’s so true to real life, it made me sad to know that they were so young and experiencing this.
I will also say that there were a few things that hit me wrong. The picture of a young girl in a tiny bikini-even though I understand it’s capturing a feeling and what days are like when you are playing with and spending time with a best friend as a kid. Cockroach blood gave me the willies. And the body image concerns with their trying to change things about their appearances-although it’s so true to real life, it made me sad to know that they were so young and experiencing this.
January 1, 2018
This was one of my favorite books as a child. I remember in 1995 (kindergarten) I got my first copy of this book. I LOVED this book back then. Reading it now reminds me of why I liked it, but it is also a very sad story. I'm not really sure why it was my favorite back then...probably because it was one of the first books that I ever owned.
June 8, 2019
A charming ode to friendship, and ones that last . . . even across the miles.
Read in honor of National Best Friends Day.
Read in honor of National Best Friends Day.
October 2, 2019
I love this book because it tells a story so many children face in their lifetime - a best friend moving away. It teaches that friendships are precious and that it's okay when friends move away.
May 5, 2021
It's sad when a best friend moves away.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2023
It’s a good story for a child whose friend is moving away.
March 22, 2024
This is a brightly illustrated story about friendship between two little girls. They have lots of fun together and promise to always be friends - even when one has to move away.
September 6, 2016
If you loved the illustrations from "Today I feel silly & other moods today" by Laura Cornell then you'll love Annie Bananie! Annie Bananie shows how friendship can never be broken even when friends move away from each other. This wonderful story by Leah Komaiko shows rhyming words that would keep kiddos intrigued and want to read the book with you. You will see all the adventures and memories that these two friends create together and end up in the very end.
February 24, 2015
I thought this book was very cute. I loved how it was about friendship and the things that happen when people have to move away. I also loved the rhyming of the story, it added a happy feeling to a sad part of life. The way the best friend talks about their friendship and how Annie will never ever find someone like her is touching. It calls out to kids that remember having friends move away or themselves move and hoe they think they won't find another best friend.
February 18, 2011
What a cute book! Laura Cornell's illustrations are wonderful.
This is an easy book, but a fun read. Annie Bananie is the narrator's best friend, but she is moving away. We see all the fun things the two have done together. Very cute. I imagine anyone who has a friend moving away would enjoy this.
This was in the boxes of books from my sister.
This is an easy book, but a fun read. Annie Bananie is the narrator's best friend, but she is moving away. We see all the fun things the two have done together. Very cute. I imagine anyone who has a friend moving away would enjoy this.
This was in the boxes of books from my sister.
November 25, 2012
Sometimes when best friends move away, it's hard to adjust, especially for those who are young. This book talks about what two best friends can do once they are far apart from each other and how they can start to make new friends. Instead of dwelling on what's happening, think of positive ways to make the situation all better!
June 20, 2007
This was a going-away present to Lucie from Anne, who used to read the book from beginning to end and then backwards from the end to the beginning again. It is as sweet and sad as any heartfelt goodbye.
June 26, 2013
A great book about friends that get sad when one had to move away. They would do everything together. This book teaches kids that friends are forever and that that you will never find another friend the same as the one that moved.
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May 19, 2008E Kom
May 31, 2008
A short sweet story about a 5 year old who is going to move away from her best friend.
June 1, 2008
very touching, very subtle. A must read for any child whose best friend has moved away.
January 30, 2009
cute pictures as well as a good message
March 12, 2009
One of my favorite childhood books, which may or may not stem from the fact that I share a name with the protagonist.
October 28, 2009
My most favoritest book ever!
January 13, 2012
this is my favorite book from when I was young. I love the humor in it and think it's great as children move out of your classroom.
June 26, 2013
This was my favorite book as a child. I read it so often, my mom had to staple it back together.
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December 23, 2013RL 2.25 GRL K
AR Quiz No. 50078 EN Fiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 2.1 - AR Pts: 0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP
AR Quiz No. 50078 EN Fiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 2.1 - AR Pts: 0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP
March 22, 2015
I remember my teacher reading this book to my class when I was a kid, and it made me cry.
August 22, 2016
Another highly rated book from the K summer reading list that I just didn't like that much.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews