Author: Verna Aardema
Title: Princess Gorilla and a New Kind of Water
Illustrator: Victoria Chess
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Year: 1988
Genre: Multicultural
Format: Hardcover
Reading Level: Self-Extending
Interest Level: Elementary
Topics: Royalty, jungle animals, safari theme, love, marriage
Summary: This book is about a Princess Gorilla who lives in the forest in Africa. Her father wants to pick out the Princess Gorilla's husband since she was at marrying age. The father or King Gorilla wanted someone strong for his daughter, so he decided to set up a test to see who the strongest animal was. The strongest animal would have the honor of marrying his daughter, Princess Gorilla. The test consisted of a barrel of special water that was really vinegar. Whoever could drink the barrel of vinegar would marry Princess Gorilla. Princess Gorilla wanted to marry a handsome male gorilla who she played with in the forest, but her father wanted it to be the strongest in the forest. A variety of different kinds of animals came to try to win over Princess Gorilla, but none of them could drink the barrel of vinegar. Finally the father gave up on his silly test and allowed his beautiful gorilla daughter to marry whomever she wanted. She picked the handsome male gorilla, the one she played with in the forest for her husband. They were married and lived happily ever after.
Extension Activity: Have kids create African jungle animal masks of the different animals in the story book. Elephants, leopards, hippos, hogs, and gorillas would be choices of the masks kids could create. Paper plates, yarn, and decorating supplies would be provided. Kids could use their imaginations when designing the masks. If there was time, students can play out the story with one another.
