Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers’ Favorite®

 

Banana Boy Billy is a heartwarming story in a poem by Barbara Ann Brownlee. Billy was born in 1945 with a stomach disorder that made him sickly and undernourished. He wasn’t expected to live but his parents never gave up hope. They tried feeding Billy an assortment of foods, but the only one that didn’t upset his stomach was ripe bananas. He loved this fruit so much that it became his main meal. His parents were overjoyed that Billy was becoming healthier. When he started school, Billy noticed children being bullied by older kids, which bothered him. Then the bullies harassed him and he reacted by eating a banana. He was transformed into a superhero and the banana peel became his magic yellow cape. This brave boy battled the Bully Bunch and was nicknamed Banana Boy Billy. 

 

This touching tale was written by Barbara Ann Brownlee who shares her fond memories of her big brother, Billy, and why he was called Banana Boy. It is a story in the form of a poem that shows how a sickly child overcame the odds and survived by eating bananas. The family kept their faith and was confident in their belief that Billy would overcome his sickness. This is an excellent example of the saying “Never give up.” Billy overcame the many obstacles in his way and served in the navy. Banana Boy Billy is beautifully written with lovely illustrations. It is an upbeat, inspiring poem that will appeal to children. This is a great book that can be used as teaching material to encourage children to be kind and compassionate to others.