Cosita Linda/ Cute Little Thing (Los Especiales De A La Orilla Del Viento) (Spanish Edition) (2008) - Plot & Excerpts
This is a story of a gorilla who learned sign language. He lives at the zoo and seemingly has everything, including a TV. However, he is sad and lonely. One day he signs to his keepers that he would like a friend, so they give him a kitten named Little Beauty. The two friends are very different in size and appearance, but they get along well and do everything together. One day, while watching a movie about King Kong, gorilla gets mad and smashes the TV. When the zookeepers come, they want to take away his friend. Suddenly (and surprisingly), Little Beauty uses sign language to tell them that she broke the TV. The two friends can stay together and it’s a happy ending. This is a picture book because text and illustrations are interwoven. Simple text inspires beautiful illustrations. There is a narrative structure and a clear sequence of events in both text and pictures, enabling even non-readers to retell the book easily using just the pictures. Close-ups of the characters and details of illustrations convey a wide range of emotions and moods. Illustrations are oversized, making it easy for teachers to share them with the group.This book can be used with K-2 students as a read-aloud or for shared reading. Some of the topics for discussion and instruction are the value of friendship, loyalty and sacrifice, using words to express anger, and sign language as a way to communicate. Educational concepts that can be taught in grade K are size and opposites (big gorilla and small Koko.) Children can try to predict what would happen after the gorilla breaks the TV. They can also practice retelling the story using picture clues and integrating text and pictures to discuss story elements and details. (ELA 0.1.2.2/1.1.2.2 and 0.1.7.7/1.1.7.7)Little Beauty is based on a real-life story of gorilla Koko and her kitten All Ball. As an extension, children can be introduced to the non-fiction book Koko’s Kitten by Dr. Francine Patterson. (This one deals with the death of the first kitten, so teachers should carefully consider whether/how to use it with young children.) Another book students might enjoy is Unlikely Friendships (“for kids” version) by Jennifer Holland, with stories and photos of friendships among different animals.Students can expand their discussion to their pets and special relationships with them. For example, how does your pet communicate with you? They can write short paragraphs about it. Alternately, the teacher can have the whole class come up with their own collaborative book about friendships with pets using Language Experience Approach, interactive or guided writing, depending on the level. A very special gorilla seems to have everything he needs, apart from a best friend and he is very lonely. When his zoo-keepers give him a kitten to befriend, the pair become inseparable and they become the best of friends that I think this gorilla was longing for. However, when the gorilla gets angry and breaks the TV, the zoo- keepers are not impressed. It seems as if this might be the end of their friendship, until the quick-thinking kitten steps in and they live happily ever after.The story line itself can be a starting point for discussion about loneliness, friendship, and kindness, potentially creating a lesson surrounding things you use and will be aware of throughout your life. Throughout the story the gorilla experiences a range of emotions; sadness, happiness, anger, all of which are show in the illustrations that are drawn on the gorilla's face. This book has the potential to be used with a wide range of ages. The striking, life-like illustrations draw in the attention of even the youngest readers. That is without a doubt. The detailed illustrations frequently create and convey their own meaning, for example the explanation that the gorilla and the kitten ‘did everything together’: they were even sitting together on the toilet! This book could even omit words and children could have great fun simply looking at the pictures and making up their own version of the story. Older readers might appreciate the hidden details within the illustrations, for example the reference to King Kong. Browne has written and illustrated many other books, often characterized by almost surreal illustrations, hidden details and visual puns. Exploring this book could form part of a literacy project on comparing texts by the same author if you got up in the older grades. You could somehow make this book work for kindergarteners all the way up to fifth grades. Good read!
What do You think about Cosita Linda/ Cute Little Thing (Los Especiales De A La Orilla Del Viento) (Spanish Edition) (2008)?
I love this author/illustrator's books. He always has gorillas in his books. His art is amazing!
—yeshjedi1212
Best for 3-5 years old, vocabulary and narrative skills.
—stefanieh
Nice message about companions and friendship.
—paige727
