At age six, Priscilla falls in love with gorillas after reading a book about them with her dad "a million skillion times."
She draws pictures of their habitats, learns about Dian Fossey and writes in her "private GORILLA GAZETTE." She tells her mother what she loves most about gorillas: "They always get their way." But Priscilla's obsession with gorillas starts getting her in trouble at school. She tries to teach a friend her gorilla dance during nap time. She's rude to her teacher. She refuses to take off her gorilla costume for the class picture. Mr. Todd, her rumpled, harried teacher, invites her to the Thinking Corner whenever she misbehaves. It's not until Priscilla's wise dad re-reads aloud the part of the beloved gorilla book about how these great apes are known for cooperating with each other that she grudgingly recognizes the error of her ways. She tells Mr. Todd, "My ALL ABOUT GORILLAS book says even gorillas don't always get their way." Ever gracious, Mr. Todd responds: "If that is an apology, I accept it, Priscilla."
In Priscilla Gorilla, Barbara Bottner and Irish illustrator Michael Emberley, who also "cooperated" on Miss Brooks' Story Nook, have created a perfect gem of a picture book, complete with a troublemaker, canny adults, droll humor and a gently proffered lesson. Priscilla's home is a comfortably cluttered haven, filled with books, laptops, art supplies and love. Strong-nosed, slightly potbellied Mr. Todd is like one of those memorable teachers from just about everyone's childhood: firm, grumpy and goodhearted. --Emilie Coulter, freelance writer and editor