PERHAPS A GIFT VOUCHER FOR MUM?: MOTHER'S DAY
June Smalls is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and a lover of literature. She resides in Northern Virginia with her hubby, The Kid, and an ever-growing assortment of animals. Yumi Shimokawara is an illustrator, picture book writer, and animal lover living in Japan. Yumi studied Japanese literature in college and then studied painting while doing various jobs.
The mighty silverback gorilla is king, but he's also a gentle giant. In straightforward text, the opening spreads explain that a dominant male in a troop of gorillas leads his family. He guides them through thick forests and steep mountains in central Africa to suitable feeding spots. It is up to him to protect them as they rest, groom, socialize, and play in the middle of the day. Sometimes, if a member of his troop misbehaves, he will display his dominance, but mostly he is gentle, dignified, and nurturing, especially when he plays with the infant gorillas. Although an adult male mountain gorilla can grow up to 6 feet tall and weigh more than 400 pounds, the dominant silverback is actually a shy creature who is content to lounge and eat most of the day. With one to three pithy sentences of main text on each double-page spread and longer sidebar text providing additional fascinating facts, this inspiring story gives insight into these imposing yet graceful apes as well as the family dynamics of gorillas, the environment in which they live, and how their habits closely parallel those of human families. Shimokawara's beautifully detailed watercolor illustrations portray these intelligent creatures with great realism and empathy. An important resource for building appreciation and awareness of a vulnerable animal species. (bibliography) (Informational picture book. 3-8) - Kirkus Review
