Written and Illustrated by Anthony Browne
Published by Candlewick, 2010 (reprint)
ISBN 9780763649678

Everyone has been sad. Everyone has been lonely. Everyone has wanted a friend at some time in their life. Little Beauty is the story of a very large gorilla who has those feelings, and who is able to use sign language to tell his keepers how he feels. More than that, this book shows how friendship can transcend obvious differences in size, gender, and even species, and how it is not always the largest, most powerful friend who saves the day.

The story of Little Beauty is simple, straightforward, and moving. The reader will feel the gorilla’s gentle roller coaster of emotions from sad to happy to devastated to elated. Beauty, the small kitten who becomes the gorilla’s friend, is a surprising but very satisfying heroine, especially for children who need to know that size isn’t everything.

Author/illustrator Browne draws wonderfully engaging characters and scenes which require minimal text to convey an array of emotions. I was hooked from the moment I saw the cover of this book, and the interior lived up to my expectations. If you like kittens, gorillas, sign language, or friendship, pick up Little Beauty.

—Steve Mudd, author