There's a Gorilla at the Door!

By Author / Illustrator

Clare Helen Welsh, Sam Caldwell

Genre

Funny Stories

Age range(s)

Publisher

Little Tiger

ISBN

9781801045827

Format

Hardback

Published

01-02-2024

Synopsis

A riotous, animal-tastic story by Clare Helen Welsh (Poo! Is That You?, The Perfect Shelter) packed with engaging, characterful illustrations from the talented Sam Caldwell (A Parliament of Owls, Sheldon's New Shell).

Daphne's mum and stepdad, Anthony, are throwing a family party. It's going to be SO BORING! But when a gorilla knocks on the door, a rhino rolls in and a kangaroo pops up, Daphne realises that this party is going to get . . . WILD! In Daphne's big animal family, everyone is different. But they all love to dance to the same beat.

This joyous tale explores themes of belonging in a blended-family environment with a subtle nod to the interconnected animal family we all, as humans, share. In this light, funny read-aloud, children will love the accumulative animal action and will enjoy picking their favourite animal party guest!

There's a Gorilla at the Door! will delight readers of The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright and Jim Field, You Can't Take an Elephant on the Bus by Patricia Cleveland-Peck and David Tazzyman, and There's Nothing Faster Than a Cheetah by Tom Nicoll and Ross Collins.

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Reviews

There's a Gorilla at the Door is a fun, joyful book with super colourful illustrations that would captivate any young reader. Dauphine's mum and stepdad Anthony decide to throw a party. Life has been hard for Daphne ever since she and her mum had moved in with Anthony. Everything that was familiar and all her friends have been left behind. There is little reason to be happy or even celebrate. But as the guests start to arrive, things started to change. Daphne begins to see things in a different light.

This is a story about differences, acceptance and above all how perspectives can shift very quickly if you give things a go. A simple, playful book that has many opportunities for young children to have fun learning about animals, their traits and celebrating ways to come together and have fun.

In the classroom, There's a Gorilla at the Door could open up discussion in any PSHE session or as an English text for young children, where names and spellings of animals could be learnt and matched alongside their characteristics. Children could also adopt different roles through dance and movement, all coming together at the end; a hands-on, interactive way to understand unity and tolerance.

Picture book / Reviewed by Louise Gahan, teacher