The Boy and the Gorilla

This profoundly moving tale about a grieving boy and an imaginary gorilla makes real the power of talking about loss. On the day of his motherâEUR(TM)s funeral, a young boy conjures the very visitor he needs to see âEUR" a gorilla. Wise and gentle, the gorilla stays on to answer the heart-heavy questions the boy hesitates to ask his father: Where did his mother go? Will she come back home? Will we all die? Yet with the gorillaâEUR(TM)s friendship, the boy slowly begins to discover moments of comfort in tending flowers, playing catch and climbing trees. Most of all, the gorilla knows that it helps to simply talk about the loss âEUR" especially with those who share your grief and who may feel alone too. Author Jackie Azúa KramerâEUR(TM)s quietly thoughtful text and illustrator Cindy DerbyâEUR(TM)s beautiful impressionistic artwork depict how this tender relationship leads the boy to open up to his father and find a path forward. Told entirely in dialogue, this direct and deeply affecting picture book will inspire conversations about grief, empathy, and healing beyond the final hope-filled scene.