Synopsis
The ultimate bedtime read from the award-winning author of The Day the Babies Crawled Away.‘Good night, Gorilla,’ says the night watchman as he finishes his rounds at the zoo. But Gorilla has other ideas, deftly pick-pocketing the watchman’s keys and letting himself out of his cage, whilst letting Elephant, Lion, Hyena, Giraffe and Armadillo out too! The weary watchman makes his way home and into bed … unaware that his friends from the zoo are right behind him!Beautifully crafted illustrations and a calming, easy-to-follow text make this zoo story a delight for toddlers and young children aged 2+. Kids who loved Goodnight Moon and Good Night, little Bear will love Good Night, Gorilla.Peggy Rathmann''s first children''s book, Ruby the Copycat, turned an embarrassing personal incident into a well-received story and earned the "most promising new author" distinction in the 1991 Cuffies Awards. Her second book, Good Night, Gorilla, was an American Library Association Notable Children''s Book and her third title, Officer Buckle and Gloria, allowed Rathmann to walk off with the Caldecott Medal in 1996. Good Night Gorilla was inspired by Peggy''s love for gorillas, "I wanted to teach sign language to gorillas, but after taking a class in signing, I realized what I''d rather do was draw pictures of gorillas".
Review
"Good night, Gorilla," says the weary watchman as he walks by the gorilla cage on his nightly rounds at the zoo. The gorilla answers by quietly pickpocketing the guard's keys, stealthily trailing him, and unlocking the cages of every animal the oblivious fellow bids goodnight to. Looking much like an exhausted father, the uniformed guard traipses home toward his cottage, while the lonely zoo animals softly parade behind him. The animals manage to slip into his bedroom and nestle unnoticed near his sleepy wife--until the bold little gorilla goes so far as to snuggle up beside her as she turns out the light. Author and illustrator Peggy Rathmann (creator of the Caldecott-winning Officer Buckle and Gloria) relies more on the nuances of her jewel-toned pictures than on words to pace this giggly bedtime story, making it perfect for observant preschoolers. In one inky-black spread, Rathmann lets only the shocked, wide-open eyes of the guard's wife tell us that the gorilla has been detected! Tiny details such as the faithful, banana-toting mouse and sky-bound pink balloon that appear in each picture keep this book fresh, magical, and fun--even after countless bedtime readings. (Baby to preschool) --Gail Hudson
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