Venture through the jungle with Michael 'Nick' Nichols as he searches for one of our closest and rarest relatives. Gorillas are so much like humans that captive gorillas are often made to mimic human behaviors for a human audience. But what do they do when they are left undisturbed in the wild? Nichols leads you towards unexpected discoveries, as he watches these wild creatures fight, love, and use tools just like humans. Up close, he can experience the kinship that many people feel when with the great apes. But he can also see that gorillas need something that humans have striven so hard to both destroy and protect: a safe and unspoiled habitat where they can continue to thrive in ways that are unique to their species.

Reviews

Gr 3-6-To nurture a desire to save these endangered creatures, Nichols shares his brilliant photography and professional experiences in the world of the gorilla. In addition to his highly entertaining stories and his insight into the next generation of photographers and researchers, he focuses on the condition of gorillas in the wild, including report-type data: a distribution map, habitat, physical features, and diet. These facts as well as fun insets teach young people "how to play like a gorilla," the differences between monkeys and gorillas, and, most interesting of all, "how to greet a gorilla." During a tour that got out of control, Nichols found himself suddenly thrust too close for a 400-pound gorilla's comfort, so he used his knowledge and experience to get out of danger. A concluding "Facts at a Glance" section strongly supplements report information, but it's Nichols's passion for gorilla conservancy and about life in the wild that raises this book above assignment fodder into the realm of pure inspiration.-Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.