Murilla Gorilla and the Hammock Problem

Told in six chapters, this light, easy mystery will boost new readers' confidence and tickle their funny bones. Detective Murilla Gorilla lives in an African rainforest. Her investigative skills are hit or miss, allowing readers to laugh along with Okapi and to help solve the mystery of who put a hole in Okapi's hammock. Smart word choice and layout add to this accessible book's appeal.

This light and easy mystery, told in six chapters, will be just the thing to boost new readers' confidence and tickle their funny bones. A gorilla named Murilla lives in the rainforest of an unnamed African country. She is a detective, always ready for a new case. At the outdoor market one day, Okapi (an indigenous central African mammal) hires Murilla to figure out who put a hole in the hammock she's selling. Murilla's investigative skills are hit or miss, allowing the reader to laugh along with Okapi and to help solve the mystery along with the earnest detective. Once Murilla figures out that the culprit likes fish and has two small feet and two large feet, she easily finds the proper suspect. Word choice and layout add to the appeal of this accessible book. It is easy to read without looking babyish, and the mystery is easy to solve without being too obvious. Looking a little like stuffed animals, Murilla and Okapi are drawn with muted tones, highlighting Murilla's pink cheeks and prehensile feet and Okapi's lovely gray-striped legs and arms. Six very short chapters have enough words to challenge emerging readers but not so many that they will be overwhelmed. While this tale could have been set in any forest or jungle, it's fun to see the animals of Africa working together. robin l. smith