Brianna Banana, Helper of the Day

Brianna is the new girl at school, and she desperately wants a friend. Instead, she is called Brianna Banana, especially by the group of girls called the Cheese Girls who reign over the classroom and the playground. Brianna walks to school with Lily, an eighth grader who is paid by Nanny to walk Brianna to school, and Brianna meets up with Leslie, a shy second grade boy who hangs out with her at recess. What she really wants is a best friend in room 109, and she thinks she has a plan. She wants to be picked as Helper of the Day because that person gets to sit in a special chair and use the pointer. Helper also gets to do chores in the classroom and take the books back to the library. For the last chore, the Helper gets to pick an assistant. This is where Brianna thinks she might find a friend. Everyone wants to be around the Helper of the Day.

So far this year, Brianna has spent a lot of time with the principal for being disruptive in class, not paying attention, and other inappropriate behaviours. She is hoping this day is different. However, Brianna is not chosen for Helper of the Day. Another student, Rumi, who is also new to the school and new to the country is chosen. Immediately, the Cheese Girls fawn over Rumi to be picked as assistant all the while calling her by the wrong name. Brianna remembers her mother’s advice: “Be a friend to make a friend.” Seeing that Rumi feels overwhelmed, Brianna yells out that her name is Rumi and to give her some air.

At recess, while Brianna and Leslie are playing in the soft sand, Rumi joins them. She is loaded down with the Cheese Girls coats, her assignment from the Cheese Girls. Brianna helps Rumi by sharing the load of coats. Back in the classroom, Brianna is thrilled when Rumi picks her to be the assistant. After some false starts, the girls end up at the library to return the books. On the way back, Brianna interrupts the principal putting up a bulletin board, but it all works out. The best part of the day happens right before Rumi heads back to her seat because she whispers in Brianna’s ear, “Bestie.”

Brianna Banana, Helper of the Day is a story about friendship, how to be a friend and how to make a friend. The Cheese Girls show many ways not to be a friend. They name call, exclude many and boss others around. Brianna, on the other hand, is a good friend. She protects Rumi, helps her, and works hard to be a good friend.