THE BOY AND THE GORILLA

Written by Jackie Azúa Kramer / Illustrated by Cindy Derby

Candlewick Press

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 Kramer’s quietly thoughtful text and illustrator Cindy Derby’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.

A 2021 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award Winner

Winner of The Alpaca Award (bronze medal) in Japan’s prestigious Kembuchi Picture Book Awards.

★ “Derby’s flowing application of paint conjures a sea of emotions, and the paintings appear as if viewed through a wall of tears. Well-placed pops of bright color are both striking and uplifting. As father and child (both present White) hug, talk, and walk hand in hand under a sweeping sky, the gorilla fades into the distance. Luminous.” —Kirkus STARRED review

★ “…Miraculous” —Publishers Weekly STARRED review

 ★ “The gorilla is a magnificent towering presence, touched with glimmering purple, whose calm attentiveness makes him a massive boulder of support.” —BCCB STARRED review

In Stores October 14th