You are 25% Banana by Susie Brooks illustrated by Josy Bloggs

All living things have "built-in recipes called genes." If you compare the genetic makeup of various things you will discover some surprising things expressed in this book as percentages such as the title of this book - you are 25% banana. Twenty-five percent is one quarter. This might shock a couple of my friends who do not like to eat bananas!

Genes are your recipe. I have my mum's blue eyes and her small feet and hands. I have light coloured hair from my dad. I know another dad with a chin dimple - it is a trademark for their family handed on to his daughter and grandson. I think talking with your library group or young reading companion about the 'traits' they can match with their own mum or dad would be the way I would introduce this book. I would also quickly display two important words - genes and jeans - just to make sure before reading that there is no confusion about the topic!

Have you heard of bossy genes? This explains why more humans have brown eyes than blue and why there are so few white tigers with blue eyes. I loved the discovery that size and genes are not related. For example this book explains that a tiny grain of rice has 36,000 genes, an apple has 56,000 and a sunflower has 52,000. Bamboo (32,000) even has more genes than the panda (21,000) who eats it.

Then there is the idea the humans have genes in common with some animals - we share genes for singing with songbirds and parrots; we share tooth growing with sharks (even though we only grow two sets); and we share our brainy genes with dolphins. But we are also related to dogs, daffodils and dung beetles. Oh, and also fruit flies which is why they were sent into space. with a group of older students this might be the opportunity to talk about why or even rise the issue of the ethics of using mice in science experiments designed to test things designed for use with humans such as medicines. 

I was pleased to read we are 80% like cows because I love cows and milk and I was not surprised to discover chimps are 99% like us. And if you have identical twins in your class that will open up another amazing topic. 

"You're 99.9% identical to every other person in the whole world. Nearly all your genes are like everyone else's. Just one in every thousand recipes in your recipe book is different enough to make you ... YOU!"

WOW! This is a book for young children about genetics. I listened to the Teacher-Librarian reading this in the library where I work as a volunteer and I was so intrigued.

Bookseller blurb: A brilliantly funny first guide to genetics that is perfect for children aged 5 years and over. This stunningly illustrated book will boggle your brain with astonishing facts, as it shows how we’re all related to every living thing on the planet. Did you know that a grain of rice has more genes than you? Or that you’re related to dogs, dung beetles and even daffodils? Luckily, even though you’re 99.9% like a chimpanzee, you’re still 100% YOU! The extraordinary world of genetics has never been explained so simply. You’ll be amazed at what makes you YOU.

In your library you will find other books about genes and genetics at [576.5]. Take a look at this post from my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything about World DNA Day 25th April. 

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Using both bold fonts and illustrations, this is a fascinating early introduction to genetics that explains how humans are related to every other living thing on the planet, including bananas; that our closest relatives are chimpanzees with a 99% match; yet while our “recipe” is the same as 99.9% of everyone else on the planet now or ever, it is the 0.1% that makes us unique.  Only identical twins have the same recipe! The Bottom Shelf

This masterful look at genes and genetics for young readers had me hooked from page one, and there are many active minds out there waiting for information that is relevant, informative, funny and engaging. Illustrations in bright bold colours inform and intrigue as does the layout of each page, drawing the eye to take another look before the pages are turned. ReadPlus

I am not a fan of the NSW Premiers Reading Challenge but you might like to know that this is a PRC 3-4 title [886461].

Here is the webpage for the illustrator Josy Bloggs. Susie Brooks is the author of these art books: