Banana characters try crazy stunts in a cautionary kids’ tale with simple healthful dishes, including banana muffins, smoothies, cookies, and pancakes. “Bizarrely funny” – The Horn Book. What’s the cure for “I’m bored” disease? A wisecracking picture book on the short (shelf) life of a bunch of bruisers—with food activities. 7 easy, yummy low-sugar recipes (more online) - Fun family time - African-American child - Free lesson plans The perfect length book for children (not too long for adults): 24 pages. It’s clever, hands-on fun for boys and girls (ages 4 – 10, preschool – 5th grade). 320 read-aloud words—before recipes—by award-winning author and college media instructor Karl Beckstrand (don’t miss his 60 multicultural books); illustrated by Jeff Faerber. #1 in the Food Books for Kids series. Explore six more—plus free recipes, ebooks, and online SECRETS: GROW: How We Get Food from Our Garden The Dancing Flamingos of Lake Chimichanga Ma MacDonald Flees the Farm It Came from Under the High Chair: A Mystery She Doesn’t Want the Worms Crumbs on the Stairs – Migas en las escaleras Discover laughter! KidsWorldBooks (Worldwide rights © Juneteenth 2011), libraries, and major cookbook distributors. Family STEM book/children’s snack book with Hispanic and Black characters; 8”x10” full-color fruit book for reluctant readers; classroom/homeschool ESL/ELL/ESOL/ESE. No AI, CRT, gender, or orientation discussions—just multiracial happiness! LCCN: 2010910826; GAM020000, JUV050000, JUV011010, JUV019000, JUV054000, JUV020000; YNPC, YBG, JNTS; Hard ISBN: 978-0977606542, Soft ISBN: 978-0977606511 (ebook: 978-1452415598) "A story, an activity book [with] recipes parents and kids can enjoy together.... A rollicking romp through badness that any kid can relish. Charming; even a bad banana can turn out good!" - Alison Levy, Park Slope Food Coop, Brooklyn, NY "Karl Beckstrand's bizarrely funny picture book Bad Bananas - A Story Cookbook for Kids shows how good bananas go wrong.... Salvation appears in the form of banana-based recipes...Delicious...I'll take an appreciative 'mmm' from The Horn Book staff any day." - Katie Bircher "Out of the Box" Horn Book blog "Wisecracking.... While banana characters get crazy, this [book] shares healthy recipes for everything from banana muffins to pancakes and smoothies.... Family-fun...a story and a cookbook." - Kat Dennis.com, Easy Cooking in the Kitchen "Wisecracking.... While banana characters get crazy, this [book] shares healthy recipes for everything from banana muffins to pancakes and smoothies.... Family-fun...a story and a cookbook." - Kat Dennis.com, Easy Cooking in the Kitchen Interview with Bad Bananas: A Story Cookbook author, Karl Beckstrand P: Who did you write this book for? KB: "This book is for anyone suffering from 'I'm borrred' disease (maybe more for their families--as a kind of comic intervention). P: Where did you get the idea for Bad Bananas? KB: "I just started to get all these wisecracking lines about bad bananas--as rebels of the fruit world." P: As a children's author, what made you write a cookbook? KB: "It was my editor's idea. When she saw the storyline, she thought it would be a perfect activity book with recipes." P: There's a lot of clever word-play in this book, is that intended for adults? KB: "Yes. I think we've all read books to kids that were better at putting the adult to sleep. I like to keep my stories fun for adults and kids--I especially like a surprise you don't expect." P: Who did the illustrations? KB: "Jeff Faerber, a New York artist." P: Tell us about the illustrations; how did you two come up with such fun imagery? KB: "I started doodling images of gang-banger bananas--with sticker tattoos, pierced peels and spiked-hair stems. I got the idea that they would have turf issues with rival bunches (grapes). Jeff Faerber came up with some red-necked renegades. Then there's the biker banana and some fun pop-culture allusions..." P: Tell us a little about the story. KB: "It walks you through the taboo subject of where bananas come from. As the characters take crazy dares and try silly stunts, you see them mature and you learn how to use them in recipes. P: What recipes come with the story? KB: "Banana cookies, smoothies, pancakes, muffins, fruit salad, banana pudding, plus recipes on our web site. They're low sugar--and delicious!" P: What do you like the most about the story KB: "Aside from the humor and the treats, I really like the message, that even a bad banana can turn out good." P: Who do you hope will buy your book? KB: "Anyone who knows a child; even older kids can enjoy the more subtle humor. It's something fun the family can do together, trying different recipes on different days." P: What do you hope that readers will get out of this book? KB: "Family laughs, hands-on fun, and treats!" P: If you could compare this book to any book out there, which book would it be? KB: "I saw a book about a witch tha