Gorilla

Product Information

This was always one of my favourite books as a young reader and probably even before I could read it myself! Gorilla is the book that made Anthony Browne’s name as a creator of postmodernpicture books. It was awarded the Kurt Maschler Award (1982-1999), which specifically rewarded British picture books demonstrating excellent integration between words and pictures. WHAT HAPPENS IN GORILLA? On the night before her birthday, Hannah was ‘tingling with excitement’. Can you think of other ways to describe how she was feeling? Of course, terrible caregivers do exist in real life. But they don’t tend to populate picture books. Even in the young adult category, truly terrible parents are extremely rare. There’s something a little disturbing about this, unless we realise that the gorilla is a fantasy stand-in father.

Hannah was frightened. “Don’t be frightened,Hannah,” said the gorilla, “I won’t hurt you. I justwondered if you’d like to go to the zoo.”The gorilla had such a nice smile that Hannahwasn’t afraid. “I’d love to,” she said. A Ana le encantan los gorilas. Sueña gorilas y dibuja gorilas, pero su papá nunca tiene tiempo para ir al zoológico. Cuando Ana le pide un gorila para su cumpleaños, ¡nunca imagina lo que el gorilita de peluche que le regalan es capaz de hacer! A less well-executed story may have started with something like, “Tomorrow it was Hannah’s birthday…” It is particularly masterful that Anthony Browne withholds this information until the conclusion. Why? Because the brightness associated with birthdays lightens the ending. Since the first part of the book is melancholic, a birthday tone would not fit well.

Hannah and the gorilla see the primates at the zoo. Can you find out about primates? What different types of primate are there? How are they similar / different? There is something wonderfully unsettling about the picture books of Anthony Browne, who is a postmodern picturebook writer/illustrator. Although very sad at the beginning I found this story to be refreshingly honest and deeply gratifying. Afterwards the walked down the street together.“That was wonderful,” said Hannah, “but I’mhungry now.”“Okay,” said the gorilla, “we’ll eat.” Anthony Browne’s incomparable artwork illuminates the deeply satisfying story of a lonely girl, a friendly gorilla, and their enchanted night out.

Gordon Fraser became a close friend and taught me a lot about card design which was to prove very useful when I came to do children’s books. I experimented with many styles and many subjects from snowmen to dogs with big eyes to gorillas. I sent some of my designs to various children’s book publishers and it was through one of these that I met Julia MacRae who was to become my editor for the next 20 years. She taught me much of what I know about writing and illustrating children’s books. Gorilla is suitable for children aged 8 and under. Gorilla is great fun because there are a lot of things to look out for but it is sad in some parts of the story. Gorilla is about a little girl who loves gorillas and if you want to find out more you will have to read it. Hannah loved gorillas. She loved reading about them, looking at films about them, and drawing them. Unfortunately, her hard-working and rather distant father never seemed to have the time to take her to the zoo to see them live. He was always busy working in the evenings, or too tired at the weekend. Then, on the night before her birthday, Hannah dreams that the toy gorilla her father has given her comes to life and takes her on a magical night-time trip to the zoo, the movies, and a restaurant. It's a wonderful experience, but no more wonderful than her father's offer, the next day, to go to the zoo together... In 2001-2002 I took a job as writer and illustrator at Tate Britain working with children using art as a stimulus to inspire visual literacy and creative writing activities. It was during this time that I conceived and produced The Shape Game.Themes of childhood loneliness is very strong in the first half of the story and whilst Hannah dreams of trips to both the zoo and cinema, it's nice that she actually gets an even better treat on her birthday. In 1976 I produced Through the Magic Mirror,a strange kind of book in which I painted many of the pictures before I wrote the story. I followed this with A Walk in the Park,a story I was to revisit 20 years later with Voices in the Park.

Probably my most successful book is Gorilla,published in 1983, and it was during this period that I was badly bitten by a gorilla whilst being filmed for television at my local zoo.The next morning a very excited Hannah rushes downstairs to tell Daddy all about her adventure, but before she can say anything Daddy wishes her a Happy Birthday and asks her if she’d like to go to the zoo! Hannah is extremely happy.