Brianna Banana: Helper of the Day

Gr 3-5–Brianna, a rambunctious and hot-tempered nine-year-old, badly wants to be chosen as Helper of the Day. Since starting third grade she has had many mishaps: getting into disagreements with classmates, shouting and yelling, and losing her temper with her teacher, Mrs. Newberry. Brianna feels alone, especially during recess. She stands out with her height and bright yellow hair, leading to her hated nickname, “Brianna Banana.” Rumi is a student who is new to the school and the country; she gets picked as class helper instead, upsetting Brianna. Then Rumi picks Brianna, much to her surprise and out of all the eager students, to help her find the library. The girls go on the journey to return Rumi’s books, but in true Brianna fashion, she becomes so excitable she forgets the directions Ms. Newberry gave her and gets lost. In the end, Brianna realizes she made a friend of Rumi because of her thoughtfulness, and that in a way she was a helper after all. This latest entry in the “Orca Echoes” line depicts a realistic view of the inner workings of a high-energy child who just wants to be accepted. Ogawa’s black-and-white illustrations add charm and movement to the prose.