Go-Go Gorillas

by Julia Durango, Eleanor Taylor (Illustrator)

Overview

From bicycles to jalopies, Go-Go Gorillas has all the vehicles you need for one wild ride! Aunt Minerva in her rollerblades, Cousin Clementine in her hot air balloon, and little ol’ Granny in her plane all help lead the way as a total of ten gorillas use crafty forms of transportation and answer King Big Daddy’s call to come and hear the news: A baby gorilla is born! With an irresistible refrain and rollicking, read-aloud rhymes, this vividly illustrated adventure is an instant vehicle for fun!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781416937791
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication date:	04/20/2010
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD530L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Julia Durango resides in Ottawa, Illinois, where she wrote a weekly book review column for children. She is the mother of two sons and is the author of Dream Hop, illustrated by Jared Lee, as well as Pest Fest, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus. Her work also includes Go-Go Gorillas, a sequel to Cha-Cha Chimps, both illustrated by Eleanor Taylor and Dream Away, illustrated by Robert Goldstrom. Her first novel The Walls of Cartagena was a Junior Library Guild Selection. Her most recent novel is entitled Sea of the Dead. She is a contributor the Three Silly Chicks blog and lives in Ottawa, Illinois.

Eleanor Taylor is the internationally beloved illustrator of numerous picture books, including Chicken in the Kitchen by Tony Johnston. Ellie and her husband live in London, England, with a son who isn't quite old enough to run around chattering like a monkey — but maybe this book will change that.

Editorial Reviews

PreS-Gr 1—King Big Daddy dispatches his mouse messenger to gather his family for a big announcement at the Great Gorilla Villa. The 10 relatives hurry over, each using a different method of transportation, from a rowboat to a pogo stick to a plane. "Niece Isabel was second:/'There's no need for you to worry./If I row there in my rowboat,/I can make it in a hurry!'" Their travels are punctuated by the relentless refrain: "Go-go gorillas! Gotta go, gorillas, go!" Taylor's busy, colorful watercolors track the chaos and the joy as the family welcomes a new baby. Though the story itself is slight, the rhyme and repetition make it a bouncy read-aloud for transportation units.—Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

School Library Journal

In the jungle at the Great Gorilla Villa, the gorilla King Big Daddy calls for his royal messenger, a mouse on a moped, and says, "Summon every last gorilla / to the Villa, don't be late. / I expect them all by sundown- / please don't make Big Daddy wait!" She visits relations one by one to pass on the message, and every gorilla hops on a different form of transport to make the appointment. Niece Isabel rows her boat. Uncle Mario drives his truck. Cuz Clementine sets off in her hot-air balloon. "Go-go gorillas! / Gotta go, / gorillas, go!" All ten arrive just in time for the announcement of a new member of the family . . . who's already on the go. Durango amd Taylor follow Cha Cha Chimps (2006) with a snappy simian tale of family and vehicles sure to have toes tapping and audiences giggling. The cartoon watercolor illustrations are full of verve and plenty of monkeyshines. A great addition to any storytime collection; by the end listeners will be chanting along with the refrain. (Picture book. 2-6)

Kirkus Reviews