CAN YOU GROW A STRIPED BANANA?

The answer to the titular query is a definite no, but the loving caregiver at the center of this fanciful book can do what matters most.

Each sentence in Santopolo’s rhyming text, presumably spoken by an adult in response to a child’s request, begins with the words “I can’t.” “I can’t hear an earthworm’s laugh or make a spider laugh.” “I can’t bathe a brontosaurus.” Meanwhile, a brown-skinned parent and youngster move through realistic settings (a kitchen, a zoo) and more fantastical ones (an “ice cream lake,” an outer-space world populated by aliens). The repetition may get a bit tiring for little ones, and though the work closes with a touching promise (“No matter what, I’ll find a way to show my love for you”), this sweetly sentimental message feels more pitched to adults. Young listeners may also be somewhat confused by the illustrations, which show the very activities the caregiver claims to be unable to carry out. They’ll likely have an aha moment on the final pages, however, when the child’s toys and décor reveal connections to the youngster’s questions. Abe’s lively artwork features plenty of whimsical characters, including worms and spiders having a party and a trio of tiny multicolored cows serving the characters milkshakes. Lots of pink, orange, gold, and green throughout add energy and fun but can’t quite compensate for the narrative’s weaknesses.

A litany of love more likely to warm parents’ hearts than catch the interest of their children.