Priscilla Gorilla

After receiving a book about gorillas for her birthday, six-year-old Priscilla becomes obsessed with them. "'Why do you love gorillas so much?' her mother asked. 'They always get their way,' said Priscilla. 'Hmmm,' said her mother. 'You already get your way a lot.'" In truth, when it comes to getting her way Priscilla has to concede quite often to her teacher, Mr. Todd, or else she finds herself "invited" to the dreaded Thinking Corner. Alternating between school and home, the story provides an engaging look at the dynamics Priscilla negotiates among adults and classmates each day as she struggles between independence and cooperation. The story's unassuming narration highlights the characters' funny quips and conversations, while the pencil and watercolor illustrations make the characters' emotions and personalities clear. Before long, Priscilla has embraced the role of troublemaker at school, and a significant number of other students have joined her in the Thinking Corner, where very little productive thinking happens. At home, her father points out that gorillas cooperate rather than cause trouble. After a night of actual thinking, Priscilla offers the beginnings of an apology to Mr. Todd: "My All About Gorillas book says even gorillas don't always get their way." Mr. Todd seems to have done some thinking, too, and arranges a class trip to the Ape House, where he provides space for some independence--as long as everyone cooperates. julie roach