Benny the bananasaurus rex by Sarabeth Holden, illustrated by Emma Pedersen

Benny, an adorable little boy with brown skin and a cute button nose, is presented in his patched, mint-green dinosaur costume, devours his favorite - bananas! His mom warns him that eating too many bananas will turn him into... a banana! This, however, is no worry for Benny, who goes on living his banana-ful life, adorably transforming, in his imagination, into a big minty-green dinosaur throughout the day.

Then Benny wakes up one morning and it has come true! He is a BANANASAURUS REX! Delighted, he dances his way through the day, with the illustrations showing him as a giant, dinosaur-shaped banana in his imagination, and wearing a cute banana costume in reality.

The art charmingly mixes reality, Benny in a costume, with his imagination. One of my favorite illustrations shows a giant dinosaur peddling Benny's bike, complete with helmet perched on his head! His little brother sprawls across his dinosaur tummy at night, and Benny delightedly devours all things banana, from tacos with banana peppers to banana pancakes.

The basic story and art are charming, although the ending is a little abrupt, but there is a added dimension to the story. It's published by Inhabit, which amplifies indigenous and especially Inuit voices. Before the story begins, there's a note from the author which explains the Inuit terms for family used throughout and a glossary for pronunciation. As can be seen on the cover, the story is set on the tundra, with houses on supports. Images of the children outside show them zipping across the stark but beautiful landscape and Benny has a conversation with his grandmother about how bananas don't grow in Alaska, so there isn't a word for them in Inuktitut - just like salsa is a borrowed word.

Verdict: A delightful read-aloud that children of many different cultures will relate to, from the love for dinosaurs and bananas to wearing costumes and playing imaginative games. This is exactly the kind of diverse book I look for, which naturally includes cultures and experiences in the story and I will be looking for more from this author. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9781772274424; Published April 2023 by Inhabit Media; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library.