Bowie is sad. All the other bananas in the bowl are happy and good at something, making Bowie feel even worse.

Bowie’s mum decides she is going to help Bowie find his own happy place and maybe turn his frown, upside down into a smile.

But Bowie doesn’t like Kiwifruit Quay. It’s too hot and sticky.

He doesn’t like all the people at Paw Paw Place.

Coconut Cove doesn’t have any Wifi.

With every place they visit, Bowie becomes more upset. Mum has one last place she can try. Bowie is missing out on so much, because he can’t see the good things in each experience.

Grandpa Owie was renown for his positivity and fun. He saw the good in everything!

Once a professional rugby player in New Zealand and Japan, author Tim Bateman retired to spend more time with family. Well-being became a huge part of his life, even opening Wellness centres.

This first book in this new series, encourages young children to see the good in a situation, instead of the negative. There is always a positive in every location, and sometimes you just have to change your frown upside down to a smile, to see what’s in front of you.

“The Sad Banana is part of the Fruit Salad Series, which teaches the importance of gratitude, self-acceptance and emotion regulation, with a focus on building resilience and positive self-esteem.”

 

The illustrations are bright and in full colour, and the rhyming text is clear and easy for young readers. 

More books covering children’s emotional challenges will follow Sad Banana.

Author – Tim Bateman

Illustrator – Jeff Bell

Picture Book

See another book review of this series (Click on the Cover)

(2023, Bateman Books, NZ, New Zealand, Fruit, Series, Banana, Positivity, Finding the Positive, Humour, Rhyme, Gratitude, Resilience, Self-esteem, Happy, Happiness)