Real-life animal-lover Gertie Lintz and Buddy, the gorilla she adopted in the 1930s, have one cosmopolitan adventure after another; the story was also the subject of a feature film from Jim Henson Pictures. All ages.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
Grade 3-4?The suits and ties he wears, the dinners he eats at a formal table, and his shopping expedition to Bergdorf's would not be at all unusual for a human, but Buddy is a gorilla. Raised from infancy by wealthy and eccentric Gertrude Lintz, he is treated as any human companion might be. He grows from an adorable toddler to a rascally adolescent; but as he matures, Gertie begins to worry and, during a trip to the 1933 World's Fair, her fears are confirmed. Sumptuous as his accommodations are, Buddy is unused to close quarters. He becomes unhappy and makes a desperate dash for freedom and the African Safari ride. Back in New York, Buddy's emerging wildness forces Gertie to make a difficult decision?but her kind heart and clever thinking find the perfect environment for Buddy and a happy ending for them all at the Philadelphia Zoo. Based on a true story, this brief chapter book first introduces the exuberant era, then dramatically sets the stage for Buddy's arrival in America, and propels readers into the fascinating Lintz household. Youngsters will empathize with Gertie, who must wistfully temper her childlike enthusiasm when faced with reality. Joyce's sepia-toned drawings are liberally sprinkled throughout the text in a family-album style and serve as visual vignettes of the period. An afterword provides additional information about the real Mrs. Lintz and Buddy; flap copy notes the recently released feature film of the same name. A captivating adventure story.?Carol Ann Wilson, Westfield Memorial Library, NJ
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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