In Kennedy Thibou, Jr.’s MAYA AND MARCUS GO TO THE BANK, the titular young brother and sister save money in their piggy banks to buy supplies from the art store to make a gift for their mom on Mother’s Day. When their banks fill up, their parents take them to open savings accounts, and they learn about bank operations such as loans, interest, and debit cards. Through their excellent work ethic, Mary and Marcus hit their savings goals and make a beautiful painting for their mother.
MAYA AND MARCUS GO TO THE BANK introduces the siblings as hardworking, intelligent, curious kids who have garnered their tenacity from their financial advisor parents. While their intense work ethic at times feels unrealistic—they spend Saturdays doing homework, mowing lawns, and walking dogs and Sundays doing chores—their smiling faces in the illustrations show that they enjoy what they do and know how to find balance. Fun scenes that show the extent of their imagination, such as picturing a bank vault full of treasure, round out their personalities to make them relatable to children.
The skillful illustrations depict Maya, Marcus, their parents, and people at the bank with realistic, animated expressions. The bright colors are attractive, and small details like items on shelves in the background and luscious green trees fill out Maya and Marcus’s world to make it feel tangible and full. The images always complement the text on the page, and the book’s conclusion—when Maya and Marcus give the painting to their mom on Mother’s Day—is satisfying and makes the book feel complete.
Thibou, Jr. wrote the book in rhyming couplets that at first feel too young for the more mature content of banking but quickly achieve a rhythm that makes the singsong narrative captivate as it moves along at an engaging pace. Because of the characters’ personalities and the enjoyable and accessible word choice, the education aspect of the book is never boring or didactic but instead is interesting and absorbing. Language that teaches about banking is clear and concise so that the emphasis is on Maya and Marcus and their adventure, telling their appealing story with the side effect of learning.
A singsong rhythm and appealing, realistic illustrations make Kennedy Thibou, Jr.’s picture book MAYA AND MARCUS GO TO THE BANK an absorbing and educational story.
~Aimee Jodoin for IndieReader