How to Drive Your Brother Bananas by Diane Z. Shore

With so many spooky, nonfiction, and more serious reads, it's time for a little humor! Today's read heads toward beginning readers and promises to keep silliness high. I'm betting that this one is great for even reluctant readers, since so many siblings love to irritate their brothers (and sisters). 

Let's see how far this main character is willing to take his teasing antics!

HOW TO DRIVE YOUR BROTHER BANANAS

by Diane Z. Shore

Illustrated Laura Rankin

HarperCollins

Beginning Readers

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

In this companion to the bestselling Level 2 I Can Read How to Drive Your Sister Crazy, Bradley Harris Pinkerton returns, and this time he's driving his brother bananas!

Do you have a big brother? Do you know how to drive him bananas? With a remote control, a rubber snake, and some dirty underwear, Bradley Harris Pinkerton shows just how easy it is!

Early-grade kids with big brothers will get a kick out of the silly sibling rivalry in this laugh-out-loud story.

How to Drive Your Brother Bananas is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the engaging stories, longer sentences, and language play of Level Two books are proven to help kids take their next steps toward reading success.

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Sibling tensions and teasing hit full swing in these pages.

Bradley has an older brother, one that only wants to sit on the couch and watch television. But Bradley wants to play, so he decides to make his brother's life a little more difficult. With step-by-step care, Bradley explains the various ways he drives his brother crazy. The pranks are simple but effective, and are sure to leave readers laughing more than once or twice.

This is a simple book for those beginning readers, who are getting the hang of their words but aren't completely smooth quite yet. The large font, ample spacing, and short lines keep the text from feeling overwhelming. Still, it flows smoothly and lets readers fall into the story. The illustrations make every page come to visual life and add extra fun. It's well suited to the intended age group and will even be one for more reluctant readers to enjoy.

Not only brothers will enjoy the pranks and teasing in these pages. Bradley has it out for his brother, and he is relentless. The book has Bradley speaking to the reader as he explains everything he does, a bit like a how-to book. The pranks are simple and age appropriate, but whether they would really work in real life is another question all together. Still, the situations edge to over-the-top, and it's hard to guess what Bradley will come up with next. This makes a fun read with few serious moments, but the promise of tons of smiles and giggles along the way.

And here they are...

Diane Z. Shore is an award-winning children’s author and read-aloud advocate. Her books have been translated into many languages. Diane loves to visit schools, and she travels across the US inspiring the most reluctant kids to read and the most hesitant students to write. She lives in Georgia with her husband and cat. You can visit her online at dianezshore.com.

Laura Rankin is the creator of The Handmade Alphabet, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book, and Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie. She is the illustrator of many other books for children, including A Balloon for Isabel by Deborah Underwood. She lives in Easton, Maryland.