The team behind 2016's Gorillas Up Close aims at a younger audience as they follow a baby gorilla through a bevy of activities. Each page reads like a one-word answer to the question posed by the title: photographs show the gorilla "looking" into a small basin in one scene, "sitting" in it in another, as well as "scratching" itself, "reaching" for some bamboo, and eventually "sleeping" in a hammock. Simplified white and pastel backgrounds keep the focus on the highlighted actions, which are recapped in a closing spread. It's a cleanly designed introduction to a gorilla's daily life, full of activities that will be familiar to the book's young readers, too. Ages 2-6. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Babies, it seems, like to do a lot of the same thingseven when one is a baby gorilla. This winning board book capitalizes on children's natural fascination with the animal kingdom to teach kids the names of 18 of their favorite activities. Beautifully photographed infant gorillas play, look, lift, sit, taste, clap, eat, and sleep, among other actions, all set against changing monochromatic backgrounds. A single gerund describes the action in each photograph. The layout has a clean, simple elegance. Regardless of one's feelings about the origin of our species, it's hard not to anthropomorphize these expressive little apes as they explore movement and sensory input. Children should have, for the most part, no difficulty relating the actions on each page to things they do in their own lives. Most deeds depicted are unambiguous, although, in the case of "looking," it's difficult to know if the ape is engaged by sight or by touch with the bowl in the photo. Similarly, in the photo illustrating "eating," the gorilla is selecting a morsel of popcorn from a few scattered on the floor, not near the ape's mouth. Kids may take the picture's proffered explanation on faith, but it would have been simpler, perhaps, to show a young gorilla biting into a banana. Quibbles aside, photos of cute animals doing cute things are an obvious slam-dunk. (Board book. 6 mos.-3) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

The author of Gorillas Up Close (2016), Nippert-Eng now contributes to an engaging board book starring a very young gorilla. Each page offers a single word illustrated by a riveting color photo that shows the little gorilla engaged in the activity mentioned in the text: tasting / walking / scratching / climbing / standing / reaching. The use of a plain background makes the animal's form stand out clearly. And, of course, the baby gorilla is ridiculously cute, which ought to please many a reader. A good concept, minimal text, and excellent photos make this book a standout for babies and toddlers.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2017 Booklist