Little Beauty
by Anthony Browne
Illustrated by Anthony Browne
Anthony Browne's long love affair with gorillas is well documented in some of his earlier picture books - Willy and Hugh, Gorilla and King Kong - but Little Beauty has even more humour and gentleness. A gorilla who apparently appears to have all comforts a creature could want (except, of course, his freedom which is the sub text of this affectionate book) is given a new friend by his keepers, a tiny kitten called Beauty.
They share absolutely everything together including, hilariously, their toilet facilities, and in the delicious twist at the end of the book, responsibility for their actions. There are messages here but they are so very subtle and all the more telling for that. I only felt sad that the gorilla has no name, he is such a character!