Author(s): Richard Fairgray, Terry Jones

NZ Picture Books

Gorillas in Our Midst is all silliness and fun, and is destined to become a new favourite. Gorillas can be hard to spot, because they are masters of disguise and really good at hiding. Gorillas often have jobs where they get to wear masks — that’s why so many gorillas are surgeons, astronauts, scuba divers, and ninjas. There are adult gorillas and kid gorillas. There are even gorillas that go to school with you. You may think you’ve seen a gorilla swinging by before, but it’s much more likely that he was an orangutan — orangutans are terrible at hiding. You will know when there are lots of gorillas living in your midst because the grocery stores will be entirely out of bananas. In fact, you should always carry a banana with you, because you never know when there might be a gorilla around.Comic artist Richard Fairgray’s illustrations are filled with wonderful details for kids to discover with each read. Kids will love spotting the gorillas on each page and are sure to laugh out loud at the gorillas’ many disguises. And, of course, a story like this can’t end without a surprising twist!'The bold, comic-style illustrations will keep readers amused from page to page and searching for the next unexpected gorilla. Alternating between large spreads and single panels, the graphics are engaging, funny, and decidedly the best part of the book. This extremely silly story will be chewed up by kids faster than a banana is by a gorilla and will leave all ages feeling amused and looking for adventure. Verdict: Ideal for reading aloud, this amusing title is sure to please.' — School Library Journal