Let's Explore: Gorillas

World Gorilla Day

Here's something to go ape over!

It's World Gorilla Day, a global celebration that connects people to gorillas while raising awareness for the conservation of these great apes and their habitat. Take time to explore gorillas with us. Click on the blue highlighted text for links to additional information. 

Gorillas like to eat roots, shoots, fruit, bark, and wild celery! Learn more amazing facts about the gorilla in this video from National Geographic Kids.

Gorilla are the largest of the apes and live in the forests of Africa. Discover more about their appearance, lifestyle, intelligence and emotions.

How many babies do gorillas have at a time? What do baby gorillas eat? How long do they stay with their mothers? What do they like to do? Click on the image to find out in the ebook, "Baby Gorillas" by Mary Elizabeth Salzmann. It is available on Hoopla Digital with your EGVPL card. 

What if you wished you were a gorilla and then became one? Could you eat and sleep like a gorilla? Could you live in a gorilla family? Click on the image to explore gorillas with Ranger Rick in the beginning reader ebook, "I Wish I Was a Gorilla" by Jennifer Bove. This book is also available on Hoopla Digital.

Gorillas are social animals that live in groups called troops. Click on the image to learn about gorilla families and how they work together to find food and raise their young in the ebook, "Gorillas Work Together" by Elton Jones. This book is also available on Hoopla Digital.

Many more gorilla ebooks are available on Hoopla Digital with your EGVPL card. There is also a large selection of gorilla books at our library. You can reserve one or more online or by phone with your EGVPL card for curbside pickup.

How will a troop of mountain gorillas react when a robotic Spy Gorilla is placed in their forest? Will the silverback welcome him to the group? Will the young gorillas invite him to play? Find out in this fascinating, entertaining video!

Silverback gorilla, Kwashi, at the Cincinnati is introduced to his group of three female gorillas. Western lowland gorillas, like Kwashi, are endangered in the wild.

Meet JoJo, Binti, Ali, and the rest of the western lowland gorilla troop at the Brookfield Zoo. This video was recently filmed while the zoo is closed to the public. 

Click on the image to watch the video read aloud of the book, "Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla", written by Katherine Applegate and illustrated by G. Brian Karas. In this story worth knowing, you will learn a western lowland gorilla, named Ivan, who was captured as a baby and brought to Tacoma, Washington mall to attract shoppers. He lived there for 27 years until public pressure built and a better way of life for was found for him at Zoo Atlanta.

You can also click the images to access the ebook, Weston Woods movie adaptation of the book, or audiobook on Hoopla Digital with your EGVPL card.

Click on the image to meet Ruby the elephant, a new friend for Ivan in the ebook, "Disney: The One and Only Ivan: Draw Me A Story", written by Beth Ferry and illustrated by Gonzalo Kenny. Based on the true story of Ivan and perfect for young children, this beautifully illustrated picture book, with word-for-word narration, reminds us that sometimes family is in the friends you find. On Hoopla Digital.

Also on Hoopla Digital is the audiobook version of the Newbery Medal winning book, "The One and Only Ivan", by Katherine Applegate. 

Hannah spends all of her time reading gorilla books, watching gorilla TV shows, and drawing gorilla pictures. Hannah loves gorillas and longs to see a real one, but her father is always too busy - or too tired - to take her to the zoo. Will Hannah get to see a real Gorilla? Find out when you click on the image to watch the video read aloud of the book, "Gorilla", written and illustrated by Anthony Browne.

"Good night, Gorilla," says the zookeeper. But the mischievous Gorilla isn't quite ready to go to sleep. He'd rather follow the zookeeper on his rounds and let all of the other animals out of their cages. See their adventures in this cute video animation of the book, "Goodnight, Gorilla", by Peggy Rathmann.

Click on the first image for easy step by step instructions for drawing both the gorilla and gorilla face.

Or click on the image and print out this "Goodnight Gorilla" coloring page.

If you're feeling crafty, click on the image for instruction to make a fun gorilla mask out of recycled material from the World Wildlife Federation.

Goodnight, Gorilla!

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