This book is about gorillas; it includes facts on their environment, family life, and self. I love the photographs used and would additionally include it in my classroom for how well the facts are stated. With this in mind, it would be perfect for grades 3rd-4th in a research project. ( )

This is straight up informational text book. It is chock-full of great photos and facts about Gorillas. It was fun to find out that gorillas often feed themselves with their feet.

My only compliant about the book is that it is direct without being flashy. The text presented is straight forward with no call-outs, vocabulary words or color palette.

Gorillas is a great book for students beginning their journey to understanding the many varieties of species in the world around them.
There is a hint throughout the book regarding animal rights and conservation, which acts as a good primer for early students. ( )

Although my interest in children's literature tends to run more to works of fiction, whether it be picture-books or juvenile novels, Jane Hamilton's recent article - What Makes a Good Science Book? - in the May-June issue of the Horn Book Magazine, has reminded me that quite a few talented children's authors devote themselves to creating informational titles for young readers. In an effort to bring a little balance to my knowledge of children's books, I thought I'd try a few titles from her list of recommendations, and Seymour Simon was a name already familiar to me.

Illustrated with gorgeous color photographs that are sure to capture the attention of young readers, Gorillas offers a brief introduction to these majestic primates. With a discussion of the three gorilla species (western lowland, eastern lowland, and mountain), as well as habitat, diet, social relations, and conservation issues, Simon's book covers all the bases. I do find myself agreeing with the School Library Journal reviewer, who commented on the absence of any maps, but that is a small fault in an otherwise excellent book. Young students will find this a helpful book, when doing school-reports, and children in general will find it both informative and engaging. ( )