MY DOG BANANA

A child walking a pet on a leash evokes strong reactions from passersby in this French Canadian import.

People on the street repeatedly point to a banana at the end of the leash, but the child insists that it is, in fact, a dog, exhorting them to see clearly and answering every comment they make. Banana’s yellow color indicates a very rare breed. She’s too exhausted to move and is well trained not to bark. She’s so upset over their comments that she just might bite them if they pet her. She fetches a ball so quickly that no one can see it happen. Annoyed at their laughter and disrespect, the child and Banana walk away in a huff. And then the onlookers are astonished by an incredible surprise twist, perhaps reminded about making snap judgments. Brief, staccato, often highly charged statements are attributed to the child or the commenters via slanted black lines drawn from the characters to their dialogue. Heavy, black-lined heads, faces, and legs form Sagramola’s seemingly simple, retro cartoon characters, while their clothed bodies are softly hued blocks of color. The pet owner is of unspecified gender and presents White. The crowd members are of varied gender, racial presentation, age, and color, with facial expressions and body language indicating their escalating reactions to the strange episode. Young readers will laugh in amazement and delight in that unanticipated conclusion.

Imaginative, surprising fun.