Gorilla - Anthony Browne

Anthony Browne
 I am a picture book author loved by children readers all over the world.

 The story, which beautifully captures a child's feelings, is entertaining, but above all, the illustrations stand out in this book.

 The first thing that catches the eye is the exquisite brushwork, so precise that it is hard to tell whether it is a photograph or a painting. From the background—such as the wood grain of the floor, the pattern of the carpet, and the delicate floral wallpaper—to the neatly combed hair of a child, the wrinkled face of an orangutan, and the beard of a chimpanzee, it looks as if a photograph has been superimposed onto a painting.

 The way the child's psychology is depicted in the illustrations is also unique. Take the dinner scene of Dad and Hannah in the first page. The bluish and pale color tones immediately convey a gloomy atmosphere. Furthermore, the sink, which is perfectly straight, the neatly folded towel, and the striped cup and spice container on the table give the impression that one might suffocate at any moment. The same goes for Dad's expressionless face as he reads the newspaper, and Hannah's posture with her back turned and head bowed.

 The same goes for the illustrations on the following pages. While the sight of Hanna standing awkwardly in a corner, gazing at her father, is pitiful, her shadow sticking out allows one to understand her feelings at a glance. The same is true for the image of Hanna sitting alone in a dark corner of the room, eating a sandwich and watching television. Instead of offering lengthy explanations about Hanna being lonely or sad, the author reveals the child's heart through the structure and arrangement of the illustrations, which appear to be meticulously intentional.

 Another joy of reading this picture book is spotting the gorillas hidden here and there by the author, who is known to enjoy drawing gorillas in her daily life. From a gorilla drawn on a Corn Flakes box to one sitting inside a picture frame instead of the Mona Lisa, a gorilla dressed as the Statue of Liberty, and even a gorilla dressed like Che Guevara—although the book deals with serious themes, the author's sense of humor, intended to bring laughter to children, truly stands out.

 It is a picture book full of the joy of appreciating the illustrations for various reasons.