One Gorilla: A Counting Book
By: Anthony Browne
About This Book
“Browne’s exquisite precision, with delicate hatching of fur and careful stippled delineation of facial lines, becomes jubilant with color and personality.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review) What better attention-getter for small children than primates in all their variety? And who better to render them than Anthony Browne? In this elegant counting book, the author-illustrator outdoes himself with a vivid presentation of primates from gorillas to gibbons, macaques to mandrills, ring-tailed lemurs to spider monkeys. With his striking palette, exquisite attention to detail, and quirky flair for facial expressions, Anthony Browne slyly extends the basic number concept into a look at similarities and differences—portraying an extended family we can count ourselves part of.
AI Overview
Title: "One Gorilla: A Counting Book" by Anthony Browne
Key Themes:
- Counting: The book is designed to help young children learn to count from 1 to 10, with each page featuring a different type of primate.
- Primate Diversity: The story showcases a variety of primates, including gorillas, gibbons, macaques, mandrills, ring-tailed lemurs, and spider monkeys.
- Family Recognition: The book extends the counting concept by highlighting the similarities and differences among these primates, ultimately portraying them as an extended family.
Plot Summary: The book is structured as a counting book, where each page features a different primate. The illustrations are detailed and vibrant, with Anthony Browne's signature style of delicate hatching and careful stippled delineation of facial lines. The story progresses from one primate to the next, each page matching the number of creatures to the corresponding numeral up to ten. The final page emphasizes that we are all members of the same family, extending the basic number concept into a broader lesson about family and diversity.
Critical Reception:
- Publishers Weekly: Praised for its "exquisite precision" and "jubilant with color and personality," the book is described as a great attention-getter for small children, with Anthony Browne's vivid presentation of primates making it an engaging and educational read.
- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books: Received a starred review, highlighting Browne's ability to render primates in all their variety with striking palette and quirky flair for facial expressions.
- NRICH: Described as a beautifully illustrated board book, suitable for children aged 3-5, with each page showing a different type of primate for children to count.
Product Details:
- ISBN-13: 9780763679156 (Candlewick Press)
- Publication Date: September 8, 2015
- Pages: 26
- Product Dimensions: 6.30(w) x 7.10(h) x 0.50(d)
- Age Range: 3 Months to 3 Years
Overall, "One Gorilla: A Counting Book" by Anthony Browne is a highly acclaimed and engaging children's book that combines counting with an educational exploration of primate diversity, making it an excellent choice for young readers and their families.