A review by lauriehnatiuk
The Boy and the Gorilla by Jackie Azúa Kramer

5.0

It's such a difficult topic to deal with, but Jackie Azúa Kramer has given us a gift that will help our readers dealing with death and grief. On the day of his mother's funeral, a gorilla comes to ease the boy's pain and answer the questions he has, unable to talk with his father. The gorilla patiently answers the boy in a straight forward compassionate manner and stays at his side until he can speak to his father. Once the boy and the father share their grief and memories, the gorilla no longer needed, quietly slips away. The language of the answers is soft-spoken and sensitive- "Where did mom go? No one knows for sure." I am becoming a big fan of Cindy Derby's talents as I discover more and more of her work (Outside In and Too Many Birds), and this book is no exception. The muted tones and the use of watercolours create the grief-stricken and then hopeful mood. A beautiful powerful book that needs to be readily available in classrooms and libraries.