________________ CM . . . . Volume XXI Number 3 . . . . September 19, 2014

cover

Murilla Gorilla and the Hammock Problem.

Jennifer Lloyd. Illustrated by Jacqui Lee.
Vancouver, BC: Simply Read Books, 2014.
48 pp., hardcover, $11.95.
ISBN 978-1-927018-47-7.

Kindergarten-grade 3 / Ages 5-8.

Review by John Dryden.

*** /4

   

excerpt:

At last, Murilla arrived at 'Okapi's Hammocks.'

"What's wrong?" Murilla asked Okapi.

He pointed to a hammock. It had a hole in the middle.

"Why are you selling a hammock with a hole in it?" asked Murilla.

"Murilla, I am not selling a hammock with a hole in it! I left my stall to go shopping. When I came back, I found a hole in this hammock! By the way, do you need a hammock with a hole in it? This one is half price."


Murilla Gorilla and the Hammock Problem is the third book in the "Murilla Gorilla" series, with the first two books being Murilla Gorilla: Jungle Detective and Murilla Gorilla and the Lost Parasol.

internal art      Murilla has a knack for solving mysteries. Murilla is very hungry, and, because there is nothing in her fridge, she scoots off to the market. While at the market, she is 'hired' by Okapi to find the culprit who chewed a huge hole in the middle of Okapi's hammock. This mystery is solved by Murilla after some crafty planning, some note-taking, and a slow pursuit. All ends well when the hammock is repaired and purchased. Murilla solves the mystery and then shops for some food to fill the fridge and her tummy!

      Not having read the two other Murilla Gorilla books to compare to, I was quite impressed with the levity of this one. It was very cute and had a few chuckles throughout. The simple delivery of the plot is quite fitting for the target audience of this book. The silly disguises that Murilla chooses will keep the laughs coming. I also liked how the plot was tied up nicely to end the book (the crocs repair their damage and buy the hammock).

      Jacqui Lee illustrates this story very well. The illustrations complement the plot nicely. From the initial discovery of a 'shoe' in the fridge to the last illustration of Murilla filling her fridge with eight bags of groceries gives the reader plenty to discover and analyze.

      This story is surely worth a close look for a home and school library for the target grade/age group.

Highly Recommended.

John Dryden, a teacher in BC's Cowichan Valley, often checks the fridge supplies.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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