Review by Booklist Review
In this, the eleventh title in the National Geographic Face to Face with Animals series, readers will learn a few facts about gorillas, especially why they are threatened, and view close-up photographs that give a sense of what it would be like to be a few feet away from them. Award-winning photographer and author Nichols has spent much of his life raising awareness about the plight of gorillas, and through brief text and accompanying photographs he shares some of his experiences as well as information about their family structure, habits, habitats, and connections to humans. The back matter includes sections on how the reader can help, a challenge to develop an appropriate zoo habitat for gorillas, facts-at-a-glance, a brief glossary, and a list of resources. This is of limited value for research, but useful for inspiration. The attractive format will appeal to the intended audience. Gorilla Doctors: Saving Endangered Great Apes (2005) by Pamela S. Turner covers similar territory.--Enos, Randall Copyright 2009 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-To nurture a desire to save these endangered creatures, Nichols shares his brilliant photography and professional experiences in the world of the gorilla. In addition to his highly entertaining stories and his insight into the next generation of photographers and researchers, he focuses on the condition of gorillas in the wild, including report-type data: a distribution map, habitat, physical features, and diet. These facts as well as fun insets teach young people "how to play like a gorilla," the differences between monkeys and gorillas, and, most interesting of all, "how to greet a gorilla." During a tour that got out of control, Nichols found himself suddenly thrust too close for a 400-pound gorilla's comfort, so he used his knowledge and experience to get out of danger. A concluding "Facts at a Glance" section strongly supplements report information, but it's Nichols's passion for gorilla conservancy and about life in the wild that raises this book above assignment fodder into the realm of pure inspiration.-Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
With Elizabeth Carney. These journal-like photographic volumes are presented by teams of National Geographic explorers. Vibrant close-ups of orangutans, gorillas, or wild horses draw readers into an appreciation of the lives and behaviors of these elusive creatures. Additional details are revealed in sidebars and appended "Facts at a Glance" sections. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Face to Face with Animals titles: Face to Face with Orangutans, Face to Face with Wild Horses, and Face to Face with Gorillas.] (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In this entry in the Face to Face series, a National Geographic photographer describes encounters with lowland gorillas in eastern and central Africa and provides a brief introduction to the species. Opening with a description of a day of following a silverback through the jungle, Nichols goes on to more general information about these shy animals and the challenges they face today. Color photos by the author and his son show gorillas in their dimly lit habitat. The text's emphasis on gorillas' kinship with human beings is enhanced by sidebars that instruct readers in greeting gorillas, playing like a gorilla and distinguishing gorillas and other great apes from monkeys. A small map shows where different gorilla species are found in Africa today. Like others in this series, the backmatter includes sections on how readers can help, ways they might learn more and two pages of fast facts. Light fare for readers curious to know more about the animals who share our world. (glossary, further resources, index, research notes) (Nonfiction. 7-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
