Brianna Banana, Helper of the Day. Written by Lana Button and illustrated by Suharu Ogawa. Orca, 2025. $8.95 ages 6 and up

 

"I am sunk right up to my knees in leaves.
And I am kicking at them like they are waves
at the beach. And that is fun, I tell you. 
Because what I love is:

1. Leaf kicking. 

And what I don't love is: 

1. Living on Princess Street. 
2. Having zero friends in room 109.
3. Getting in trouble every single 
day of Grade 3. (Nanny would like 
to know how a kid manages to get 
into so much trouble when school 
has just barely started. And I don't 
have an answer for that woman.)"

Now you know a bit about Brianna; you are about to learn a whole lot more. It is a tough task for Brianna to find a way to be a little more like the other kids in her class. She can certainly be loud and is often inattentive to what is going on around her. Losing her temper happens a bit too frequently. Brianna is consumed by the idea of being Helper of the Day, which has never happened. She wants the others to like her, and she equates being the helper as the way for others to pay attention to her and finally want her for a friend

She is shocked when the new student Rumi is given the job. Luckily, Brianna has made a few inroads with Rumi by doing what she can to make the very quiet new girl more comfortable. When Rumi asks Brianna to help her return books to the school library, she does not know it will also be a challenge for her new friend. Brianna gives it her all, as she does with everything that happens in her life. Eventually, they find where they are going with help from some middle graders, and the principal. His response to that help is made evident to their teacher and classmates when the girls return from their errand. 

Despite the many little quirks, the constant lack of control she exhibits, and the fierce desire for showing everyone just how good she could be if she were the helper of the day, readers will empathize with this thoughtful, and totally believable character created by Ms. Button. Though often unruly, it is plain to see that  Brianna has a heart and knows how to be a friend. She just needs the chance to prove it.