Gorilla Vanilla

What’s a gorilla to do when nothing goes as planned? Go bananas, of course! A delightful take on handling disappointment, perfect for fans of Grumpy Monkey.

Gorilla loves her summer vacations at Turtle Lake. Every day, she and her best friends, Chimp and Rhino, build sandcastles, swim in the lake and play on the swings. Then they top off the day with the dreamiest ice cream at Scoop de Loop – always vanilla for Gorilla. Only, this year, Gorilla’s plans keep getting thwarted! Her shovel breaks. Her swim goggles go missing. The playground is closed for construction. By the time Gorilla discovers Scoop de Loop has run out of vanilla ice cream, she’s nearing a total meltdown! Unless there’s another way she can deal with broken traditions …

Tasha Hilderman’s fun picture book will resonate with any child who wants their favorite things to always stay the same. In the end, Gorilla learns that by changing her perspective, she can turn a bad experience into an opportunity for a good one. This book has social-emotional learning applications in showing children how to manage disappointment and frustration when things don’t go to plan. It’s an excellent choice for helping children navigate change in the classroom or at home. It also works for character education lessons on adaptability and resilience. This book makes a great summertime read, as Paul Hammond’s bold, tropical color–drenched illustrations bring the joys of summer vacation to life.