Media buzz

 

Chosen for listing in Media Bistro’s GalleyCat blog

A very fun read for kids.—Beth Haynes, “Live at Five at Four,” WBIR-TV

This is a funny, eccentric tale …The Banana Police is one of those very special picture books that speak to kids in their own language. And it makes a profound point about cooperation, beyond peaceful co-existence into the magical harmonies that are possible with diversity.—Maggie Hames, Media Darlings

My daughter and I both loved this book. The exuberant silliness and message of cooperation and community spirit reminded me of Dr. Seuss. And the illustrations hit just the right balance between realism and foolishness (they reminded me a little of Michael Martchenko, who illustrates so many of Robert Munsch’s books). I particularly loved the various things the people in the book tried to do with all of their excess bananas, including banana pizza and banana scrambled eggs. My daughter Magda and I had fun thinking of all the things you can do with bananas (though hopefully NOT the banana eggs!).—Mary Lavers, Cozy Little Book Journal and The Bookish Elf

“What a fun, creative story! Its humor will certainly delight readers and help spark imaginations. Word choices, style of writing is perfect for the intended audience….Very entertaining!”  “Cute, goofy illustrations complement the cute, goofy story well. Appealing, bright, cheerful colors also go well with the text.”  “Love the illustrations.”–from the judges of the 2013 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards

This book is funny, has wonderful details and teaches the kids about the acceptance of others. I love that there is text on one side and a very detailed picture on the other side which entertained both my reader and non-readers. A great book for all ages! We keep finding new things every time we read it. And the banana consumption in our house is up by 500% thanks to this lovely book!—Nina Holstead, Mamabelly’s Lunches with Love

When I asked children’s author Katy Koontz to visit my blog, I never dreamed her book, The Banana Police, would have a lesson for me, too. This lovely story, about co-existing with our neighbors, gave me a moment to pause and think about my own small town. Most days here are problem-free, but every so often we find ourselves divided on an issue, easily forgetting how much we all need one another to make this great place work smoothly. This book showed why it’s important to accept our neighbors, despite differences. And it even points out why it’s important to admit when you’ve made a mistake.—Sharon Struth, Musings from the Middle Ages

What do you do when there’s a State of Banana Emergency? Call the Banana Police! Humor Columnist Tracey Beckerman…made me aware of this adorable children’s book….We liked when “all the elephants packed up their TRUNKS…” Kelsey C. Roy’s illustrations throughout the book are incredible. The bananas add a vibrant yellow to all the pages. The two pitch black pages in the middle of the book where the sun was blocked was a lot of fun with the glow-in-the-dark sneakers…. You’ll be craving bananas and definitely want to try the BUNCHES of the delicious banana recipes and banana facts at The Banana Police website after you finish reading the book.–Lainie Gutterman, Me, Myself & Baby I

The Banana Police is a wonderful book written for children that cleverly teaches a lesson in the book. The illustrations are very colorful and go wonderfully with the book. Both of my boys loved reading this book and have already read this book several times! My rising second grader was able to read the majority of the book with no assistance from us. I am glad to have added this book to our bookshelves! —Susan Craigo, Macaroni Kid Knoxville

An excellent book and worth reading! The pictures were great and…I liked how the lesson of the book was told in the story. I look forward to reading this book again and again!–Jonathan, age 10; I want everybody to read The Banana Police. It’s the best book I’ve ever read. I can’t wait to read it again and again and again!–Jeremy, age 6; mini Macaroni reviewers, Macaroni Kid Knoxville

This book was extremely silly and also very fun. It would be a good book for parents to read to their children, and I would say that children of all ages would most likely like this picture book….The message in the book is good for kids to learn, also – that all types of groups (elephants and people, in this example) can learn to “coexist” and live together despite their differences.–Elizabeth Parker, Books I Think You Should Read

Adults will appreciate the story for its clever charm and ability to teach children that every living thing plays a role in our lives, by eliminating one organism, the whole cycle can be thrown into havoc. The Banana Police is a story not to be missed!–Rebecca Schwarz, Elephant Journal

Cute and adorable book– from the blog of Julia Bristow, California jewelry designer

Deep in the jungle is a sweet little town where people and elephants share a happy, peaceful life together, and children’s writer Katy Koontz and illustrator Kelsey C. Roy–both of Knoxville–are just the twosome to take young readers there, to see for themselves what happened when Mayor McFroontz has to call on the Elephant Police to solve a pesky pachyderm problem. The Banana Police (Willow Moon) is a lesson in peaceful coexistence.—Ina Hughes, Knoxville News Sentinel

WATCH BETH HAYNES INTERVIEW KATY ON WBIR-TV’S “LIVE AT FIVE AT FOUR,” PROMOTING THE 2014 FARRAGUT BOOK FEST FOR CHILDREN

READ AN INTERVIEW WITH KATY ON “THE BRAIN OF A CHILDREN’S AUTHOR” BLOG (BY KRISSY CLOWE)

LISTEN TO AN AUDIO INTERVIEW WITH KATY ON RADIOCENTRIX (HOSTED BY LEE ANNE McCLYMONT)

READ AN ARTICLE IN THE MARCH 3, 2014, SHOPPER NEWS ABOUT THE BANANA POLICE AND KATY’S VISIT TO WEBB SCHOOL OF KNOXVILLE TO READ THE BOOK TO WEBB’S KINDERGARTEN CLASS.

READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT KATY IN THE SPRING 2013 ISSUE OF THE COMMUNICATOR, A PUBLICATION FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF THE COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATIONS AT PENN STATE

READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT KATY AND KELSEY VISITING KNOXVILLE JEWISH DAY SCHOOL IN THE APRIL 2013 ISSUE OF HA’KOL, KNOXVILLE’S JEWISH COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER

READ AN ARTICLE IN THE JUNE 25, 2014, SHOPPER NEWS ABOUT GALLERY NUANCE HOSTING A RECEPTION FOR THE BANANA POLICE, WITH KATY AND HER DAUGHTER SAM.