Picture Book: Koko’s Kitten
Author: Dr. Francine Patterson
Photographs by: Ronald H. Cohn
Summary: Koko, an amazing gorilla in an experimental
communication program since the early 1970s, has not only mastered 2,000 or so
words in American Sign Language (according to recent info.), but the art of
loving as well. After communicating that she wanted a cat for her birthday,
Koko is given a kitten who she names All Ball. This story records her anticipation
and her loving relationship with All Ball including Koko’s obvious grief when
All Ball is run over by a car. Eventually a new kitten, Lipstick, is found for
Koko and a new loving relationship begins.
Hanna's Comments: More recent editions of this book will have up-dated information about Koko in the Author's Note and Preface. This author has a more general book about Koko and her abilities: Koko's Story. Koko has been a celebrity for decades so there is a great deal of information about her on the web, especially at www.koko.org.
Publisher & Date of Publication: Scholastic,
1985
Age and Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up
# of Pages: 32
Available
in Spanish? Not at present
Formats other
than Book: None at present, see videos of Koko on www.koko.org, a feature length video about
Koko is available for purchase at Amazon.com and on Youtube.com
PBT Category: Non-fiction, Pre 2K
PBT Topics this Book Connects with: affection, animals, brokenness,
death/loss/grief, depression/despair/sadness/sorrow, differences, the
environment/nature, family, friends/friendship, loneliness, love, mothers,
pacifism/peace/peaceful/peacemakers/peaceable kingdom, pets, wonder
Scripture Connections: Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth…
(Job 35:11), Peaceable Kingdom (Isaiah 11:6)
Idea(s) for Application: Read this before you take your community’s children
to the zoo. While at the zoo engage them in conversations about the mysteries
of animal abilities, God’s creative imagination, and our responsibility as
caretakers of the Earth’s creatures.
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