A Quick Trip to the Store
When mother and daughter realize they are out of bananas, neither is thrilled with the idea of going to the grocery store. Predicting they will have their usual disagreements over purchases, they head to the local Oinkly Doinkly. This time, however, a stray cart beckons to the little girl, leading her inside on her own to cruise the aisles. Adventure ensues as the little girl explores the store, unaware that her mother and store staff are forming a search party. Readers will delight in the unintentional game of hide and seek, which ends with mother and daughter quite literally going bananas! Our main characters find a creative way to make amends with the grocery store manager in a way that readers will find quite a-peeling.
In the classroom, adding example grocery lists and if available, plastic grocery food items, to dramatic play areas provide props for children to pretend and extend the story. (Be sure to add bananas!) At home, children can assist with creating and checking off a grocery list when shopping with adults. Ask children if they have ever tried banana bread. It might be fun to follow a recipe together, and have a taste test of plain banana bread, or bread with walnuts, or another loaf with chocolate chips. Which one is their favorite?
The author and illustrator of this book uses an exclamation point as a symbol above the little girl’s mother and some of the grocery store team members to indicate their alarm at knowing a child is missing. This small yet important detail may be helpful for adults to point out to children, explaining that more grown-ups are coming forward to help. While the little girl grabs readers’ initial attention, the background also provides more context for the reader.