Brianna Banana
Early Chapter book Series
Brianna Banana, Helper of the Day
ISBN-9781459840010
Illustrated by Suharu Ogawa
Published by Orca Books
AWARDS
2025 Telling Tales Reading List commendation
2025 49th Shelf Kids Top Grade: Canlit for the Classroom commendation
2025 New York Public Library (NYPL) Best Books for Kids commendation
2025 Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Books of the Year commendation
2026 Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Choices commendation
2026 Bank Street College of Education Children's Book Committee Best Children's Books of the Year commendation
Nine-year-old Brianna struggles to fit in. She can be impulsive and distracted, and sometimes she loses her temper, but she's also thoughtful and brave and ready to be a friend. Brianna thinks that being chosen for classroom helper duty will make the other kids like her. When new girl Rumi is named Helper of the Day instead, Brianna is disappointed. But could a new friend be just around the corner?
Brianna Banana, Worst Surprise Ever
ISBN-9781459843196
Illustrated by Suharu Ogawa
Published by Orca Books
“Focuses on accepting unexpected changes. This series does an admirable job of presenting one day in the life of an irrepressible, possibly neurodiverse kid who just wants everyone to understand what she meant! Brianna is a great character that kids will be both entertained and comforted by—particularly those kids who might see themselves in Brianna. Recommended for all collections where social emotional chapter books will find an audience.”
-School Library Journal (SLJ)
Brianna Banana has the best secret in the history of Grade 3: she knows she is Helper of the Day!
But when Miss Dee, a new substitute teacher, takes over her class and doesn’t know anything about Helper of the Day, all Brianna's hopes are dashed. Soon she's in trouble for yelling and the principal is giving her another lecture. But when a fire drill is called and Brianna uses her fire drill experience to make sure both Miss Dee and her classmate Rumi make it safely outside, Brianna learns that there is more than one way to be the Helper of the Day!
AWARDS
2025 49th Shelf Kids Top Grade: Canlit for the Classroom commendation
2026 CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens commendation
Brianna Banana, New Cheese Girl
ISBN-9781459843226
Illustrated by Suharu Ogawa
Published by Orca Books
For the first time in the history of her Grade 3 life, Brianna walks into Room 109 without one thought about Helper of the Day.
What a surprise when she sees her name on the board! And guess what? There’s an opening for her to join the Cheese Girls too! All she has to do is pick Kinsley to go with her to deliver the library books. But does Brianna have what it takes to be a Cheese Girl? Or does she even want to be one? Maybe spending time with a real friend is better than being included in a club.
“It’s a testament to Button’s skills that despite Brianna’s repeated poor choices, she’s engaging and sympathetic—the kind of kid you root for. Big feelings and deep breaths abound in this deft portrayal of an unlikely hero.”
-Kirkus Reviews
“Young readers will appreciate the realistic portrayal of classroom cliques and reflect on what it means to be true to oneself despite an urge to be more popular through imitation. A powerful elementary chapter book that urges readers to celebrate learning differences and the many emotions of childhood.”
-School Library Journal (SLJ)