Gorillas (edition 2011)

This books provides good descriptions of physical characteristics of gorillas. It also gives alot of information on how they live, such as what do they eat and where they live. Also, a good book to use when studying different types of animals. ( )

This book tells you absolutely everything about gorillas. The book is told simply and adds more information on gorillas in the midst of Ms. Gibbon's beautiful paintings. I learned so much reading this book that I didn't know about gorillas before.
Classroom connection: Primates, Gorillas ( )

Gorillas by Gail Gibbons

The author introduces us to gorillas in simple sentences with more information incorporated into her illustrations, using maps, captions, and additional text. She discusses gorilla behavior, why they are endangered, their habitat and how they interact with the world, and their family groupings. A final note gives more information about gorillas.
While I really enjoyed Gibbons’ recent nonfiction weather books, Tornadoes and Hurricans, I was disappointed in this title. Gibbons’ swirling illustrations (I’m going to go out on a limb and guess watercolors) are not detailed enough to fully delineate the accompanying text – for example, the page that shows gorillas’ emotions has four gorilla faces in panels, supposedly demonstrating “happy, worried, angry, aggressive” but the pictures are confusing; all of the faces and attidues look alike. Again, the illustrations supposedly showing different species of gorillas all look alike, as do the male and females. The map at the beginning bleeds into the other illustrations and inset panels of additional information and pictures make the pages crowded and bewildering.

Verdict: Gibbons’ factual books are generally well-received, but her art falls short in this volume and the confusing layout makes this book a disappointment. Not recommended.

ISBN: 978-0823422364; Published March 2011 by Holiday House; Borrowed from the library