Gorilla

Anthony Browne loves gorillas and so does Hannah, the main character in this picture book from 1983. Hannah is lonely because her father doesn’t have time for anything, not even going to the zoo to see Hannah’s beloved gorillas. On the eve of her birthday, something wonderful happens that changes everything: Hannah has a magical night on the town with a gorilla dressed in her father’s overcoat and hat.

Use this story to discuss how people change. For fun, count all of the gorillas (on the cake, in the pictures on the wall) and notice the changes in Hannah and her father throughout the story. There are many secrets in Anthony Browne’s illustrations. Find as many as you can. Compare this book to Browne’s Little Beauty.