Killer Gorilla
by
Jeanne Willis
Illustrator: Tony Ross
Mouse begins a perilous search for her lost baby, and just when things look utterly bleak: out jumps a ‘Killer Gorilla’.
She entreats for help as she is chased across the world, until eventually she is resigned to die. But the gorilla has a surprise. He holds out her baby.
Themes of loss, aloneness and fear are cleverly handled. The story, told in the third person, uses exaggeration and repetition so that the reader appreciates the emotions without experiencing their full force.
By contrast Ross makes use of eyes to reveal feelings and the scale of the mouse in her vast environment to show us her vulnerability. The reassuring message is that even in a big scary world there are people to take care of us.
Publisher: Andersen
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Tony Ross
Tony Ross is one of the best-known creators of picture books. He trained at the Liverpool School of Art before working as a cartoonist, a graphic designer, at an advertising agency and as a University lecturer. His most popular books include his interpretations of fairy tales, the Dr Xargle books and the much-loved Little Princess series, which has been turned into a highly successful animated television series. Tony Ross has also illustrated many children’s fiction titles and in his extremely prolific career he has illustrated more than 1200 books.
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Jeanne Willis
Jeanne wrote her first book when she was five years old and hasn't stopped writing since. She now has over eighty titles to her name, including picture books, novels and television scripts. She has also won numerous awards, including the Children's Book Award, the Sheffield Children's Book Award and the Silver Smarties Prize. Her teen novel, Naked Without a Hat (Faber) was shortlisted for the Whitbread Award in 2004. She often takes inspiration from dreams and interesting conversations with strangers.
Jeanne Willis
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Reading Age: 3-6
Interest level: 2-5
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