The drawings are deceptively simple, but there's a lot to discuss on every page - particularly Junior's expressions!įor another book with a subtle message you might like to look at Emma Chichester Clark's It Was You Blue Kangaroo or Julia Donaldson's Tyrannosaurus Drip. It's just a very simple and amusing way of allowing a child to absorb a point whilst still being able to laugh at Junior's antics. There's no need to associate what Junior monkey does with a child's tantrums no need to suggest that the child has any shortcomings at all. Ed Vere's book is a gentle way of getting a point across.

Some will learn the hard way - from class mates most probably - that this isn't the way to behave. An unfortunate few don't realise until too late that you're not going to be liked if you act that way. I think all children go through that stage when they think that they can demand and get anything they want as of right. It's about sharing, because once Senior has given up the banana, Junior might be happy but what about Senior? The story - all two words of it - is about being courteous and thinking about others. It isn't a story about an adult rewarding a child once they've done the decent thing. The cleverness of the story is that it doesn't end when Junior says the magic word. You can tell a story with just two words and some wonderful drawings if you're Ed Vere. Well, let's be honest - there are two words, but believe me, they are used brilliantly. Sometimes they all clash and fight it out on the floor. The colours are vibrant with lime green, custard yellow, a pink that would leave a raspberry looking shameful and bright red predominating. It's brash and noisy even before you've opened the cover. Don't for a moment think that this book is subtle or delicate.

If I had to think of one phrase to describe Ed Vere it's 'in-your-face'. It's not until they calm down (even though there are tears running down their faces) that you can put a hand to your ear the better to hear that magic word which could have saved all the trouble. Most parents will realise that what's coming next is the full screaming-on-the-supermarket-floor tantrum, so bad that you can't even look.

Junior begins with a joyful shout as he spots the fruit and then looks bewildered when it isn't immediately handed over. When one is an older monkey and the other not yet out of the proverbial short trousers it's an opportunity for Senior to show the way that things should be done. Monkeys love bananas but there's bound to be trouble when one monkey has a banana and another hasn't. It's a brash, in-your-face book which conveys the message very gently. Summary: A brilliantly executed story with only two words and some wonderful drawings which points up the benefits of courtesy and sharing.

Banana by ed vere