Face to Face With Gorillas (Face to Face with Animals)
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. Grades 3-5. --Randall Enos