You Are 25% Banana
Publisher: Red Shed (An imprint of Farshore / HarperCollins Publishers)
Publication Date: 6 January 2022
Illustrator: Josy Bloggs
Author: Susie Brooks
Award-Nominated STEM Visual Storytelling
Bringing You Are 25% Banana to life was an incredible opportunity to turn highly complex molecular biology into a hilarious, accessible visual feast for young minds. I am absolutely thrilled to share that this book achieved prestigious industry recognition, hitting multiple shortlists:
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Shortlisted for the 2023 ALCS Educational Writers' Award
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Shortlisted for The Week Junior Book Awards – Children's Book of the Year: STEM
For art buyers, publishers, and creative directors browsing my portfolio, this project perfectly showcases my commercial, layout-driven design approach. Taking abstract concepts like DNA sequences, chromosomes, and shared evolutionary traits, I developed an eye-catching, high-impact aesthetic that balances scientific integrity with pure, joyful character design. The critical acclaim from these award shortlists highlights my ability to illustrate top-tier, engaging educational packages that stand out on a global shelf.
About the Book
Aimed at junior scientists aged 5 and over, You Are 25% Banana is a brilliantly witty introduction to the rules of genetics. It stretches children's imaginations by revealing that we are deeply connected to all living things on Earth.
Working with author Susie Brooks' playful text, my vibrant illustrations map out the funny similarities we share with nature, bringing to life mind-boggling facts.
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A tiny grain of rice actually contains more genes than a human being!
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We share 60% of our DNA with chickens and fruit flies.
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We are 99.9% identical to chimpanzees—yet through the magic of genetic mixing, we are still 100% uniquely ourselves.
