Author(s): Lisa Shanahan

Picture Books

There's high excitement at the zoo. Gordon the gorilla is coming, the new top boy, who will take care of the ladies. But when Gordon arrives, the baby gorillas split themselves laughing. "Gordon's got a snookie," they chortle. Poor Gordon is ostracised and the lonelier he feels the more he needs his snookie (or cuddly). This is the endearing story of Gordon's struggle to balance the demands of masculinity with his need for his snookie. The manic expressions on the animals' faces give Harris' vibrant illustrations a near-human dimension. With its themes of loneliness, teasing and staying true to yourself, this is the perfect read-aloud for pre-schoolers through to 7-year-olds.