Gladys Goes Out to Lunch

At the zoo Gladys eats

bananas for breakfast,

bananas for lunch,

and even bananas for dinner.

But one day Gladys

smells something even

better than bananas.

Could it be pizza? Ice cream?

Or something altogether better?

At the zoo Gladys eats

bananas for breakfast,

bananas for lunch,

and even bananas for dinner.

But one day Gladys

smells something even

better than bananas.

Could it be pizza? Ice cream?

Or something altogether better?

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-Gladys, a purple and blue gorilla, loves bananas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but one day she smells something delicious and leaves the zoo to find out what it is. As she follows her nose to a pizzeria, a French cafe, and an ice-cream stand, she samples various foods, but none of them matches the tantalizing aroma. Finally, she discovers that it is coming from a cart at the zoo that is selling banana bread. Done in bright acrylics, the vibrant cartoon illustrations show Gladys's progress out of her enclosure, past the zoo's front gate, through the restaurants and city streets, and back home by way of the zoo's rear entrance. She creates havoc all along the way, remaining totally oblivious to the two keepers undergoing various adventures as they chase after her. Large yellow bananas decorate the endpapers and add to the fun. This humorous book will tickle children and could also fit well into a unit on the five senses. A recipe for banana bread is appended.-Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Derek Anderson is the bestselling artist and cocreator of the Little Quack series. He is also the talent behind Gladys Goes Out to Lunch and Over the River: A Turkey’s Tale. He and his wife Cheryl reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Visit him at DerekAnderson.net.