If I were just scanning the library for an interesting book to read, at first look, I definitely would not have chosen this book. After reading it, however, I have learned interesting facts, stared at cute pictures, and become much more interested in gorillas than I was before.
    This book had only a few problems; it tends to drag on in a few spots and sometimes the author uses scientific terms all bundled up together, making it difficult to read. And lastly, there are spots where it’s totally boring.
This is a cool book, though! I learned that gorillas sometimes pretend that they’re going to attack you when you get too close, but in reality, they’re just doing that to scare you off. They’re quite gentle most of the time.
    I learned a whole bunch of other neat stuff, too. There are also a bunch of cute pictures in this book, especially pages 11, 43, 52, and 66. Okay, not page 66, that’s a severed head. But the other pictures are really cute!
    If I were to change anything about this book, I would make it easier to read and add a little pizzazz. As a reference, I would give this book a 10, but for everyday reading, a 6.5. I absolutely recommend it if you’re doing a gorilla project. You’ll get an “A”!

(Originally published in the May/June 2004 issue of YES Mag.)