Bananas in My Ears: A Collection of Nonsense Stories, Poems, Riddles, and Rhymes

K-Gr 3--This collection is organized around four topics: breakfast, the seaside, going to the doctor, and bedtime. While the poems focus on the nonsensical-a boy has bananas in his ears, so he can't hear anyone who tells him that he has bananas in his ears, another boy is surprised when a ghost emerges from his toast-the selections are tied together by the repetition of particular characters and formats. Many of the pieces feature family scenes, and a few formats are repeated in each section, including some about brother and sister Nat and Anna. "What If?" poems utilize speech bubbles for the text. Every poem is paired with a watercolor and ink cartoon illustrations. Some get small vignette images scattered across the page, while others appear on full spreads. Some, like the "Things We Say" selections, depend on the illustrations for extra details, while others are simply complemented by them. The nonsense topics and amusing images are sure to entertain kids, presenting life in all its messy, crazy, chaotic glory. The focus here is on the mundane, with bursts of imagination kids that will relate to. This book could work well as a read-aloud for small groups, but it might be enjoyed even more when children share it together.--Heather Talty, formerly at Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, New York City