When Gorilla Goes Walking

By Nikki Grimes

Grimes, Nikki. 2007. When Gorilla Goes Walking. NY,NY: Orchard Books. ISBN: 0-439-31770-3

PLOT SUMMARY:

A girl named Cecila who has a best friend also named Cecila gets a new pet kitty cat and names her Gorilla.  The story follows Gorilla and Cecila through getting to know one another and the ups and downs daily life.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

This book is a collection of poems that talks about Cecila’s life with her new pet kitty cat.  The poems follow Cecila and Gorilla through their daily lives and the things that happen.  One day Ceclia is home sick and Gorilla becomes her nurse.  The images on the pages are vivid and engaging.  They help the reader understand what is happening and where the story is going. The poems have words that sound the same at the end of every other line. 

The book as a whole is cute and has some funny parts.  It is easy to understand and can be read by children as young as kindergarten.  The poems are too long for children of a younger age.   

CONNECTIONS:

These poems can be read aloud.  In a group of children they can take turns and each read a page out loud.  The children can also write their own poems about a pet they have at home. 

REVIEWS:

From Booklist

Grimes' skillfully chosen sounds and rhythms echo the distinctly feline behavior, from erratic, zooming action--"skate 'cross the floor. / Sail by the window, / leap through the door"--to soothing, purring comforts: "Gorilla raised a paw / and pet me." In spare, expressive lines and bold colors, Evans' dynamic paintings capture the messy intimacy of the cat and human bond. Also evident is the sense that Gorilla isn't just a pet; she's also a mirror.

Gillian Engberg
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