A person's body stops working.
Like their heartbeat?
Yes.
Will we all die?
Yes. We all do. But you have many more kites to fly."
After his mother dies, the little boy watches a gorilla trudge slowly into their house while guests are visiting. He is in his mother's garden when the gorilla first speaks to him. The gorilla offers the gentle acceptance and patient answers the child needs to the many questions he has. His father, while there with him, is unable to share his feelings yet.
Days pass. The gorilla is a constant companion, listening closely as the boy shares memories, thoughts and further questions. The answers given are honest, reassuring, needed. The gorilla is accepting and protective. He assures the child that his mother will always be with him ... in the memories he shares, the good times spent together. Through those initial first days of mourning for his mother, the gorilla's presence provides a warm blanket of protection.
Soon, the boy reaches out to his dad. Together, they are able to express sad feelings and their need to be with each other. As they talk about the things they remember, the gorilla fades from view. In a final spread, the father and son add new flowers to Mom's garden, then head into the house hand in hand.
The cheerless tone of the story is matched in quiet artwork done with watercolor, gouache, India ink and using digital collage. These illustrations are as comforting as the gorilla's words. Compassionate and luminous, it is a book that will be appreciated by many.
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