Boy and the Gorilla

A young boy conjures an imaginary gorilla to help him cope with his mother's death. The gorilla provides comfort and answers his questions about loss, leading him to open up to his father and find healing. The book encourages conversations about grief, empathy, and healing.

Format: Hardback
Length: 48 pages
Publication date: 05 November 2020
Publisher: Walker Books Ltd

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 mother's funeral, a young boy conjures the very visitor he needs to see – 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 gorilla'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 – especially with those who share your grief and who may feel alone too.

Author Jackie Azúa Kramers quietly thoughtful text and illustrator Cindy Derbys 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.

Weight: 412g
Dimension: 222 x 276 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781406395549