Kokos Kitten

Could you ever imagine a gorilla having a pet cat? In the book Koko?s Kitten by Dr. Francine Patterson, there is a gorilla named Koko and she has a pet cat. In the book, Koko learned over 500 words of sign language. I never knew that a gorilla could learn sign language. This is a really interesting non-fiction book. Will Koko be a good pet owner? Read and find out!

The story of Koko, the gorilla who knows sign language, and her kitten, Ball, is told by Penny Patterson, her owner and mentor. Koko loved books about cats, and one day, she got a little gray, tailess kitten of her own. Koko named the kitty All Ball. There are wonderful photos of Koko cuddling and playing with Ball. Looking at them, it's easy to see that humans don't have a monopoly on love. A sad part leads to a happy ending for the wonderful Koko, who is now 31 years old. This book is especially recommended for anyone learning sign language!

I loved this book as a child, and now, as a first year teacher, i plan to use this book in my classroom. The book is informative and sweet, and the pictures are adorable.

I first read this book when I was in the second grade and remember it bringing tears to my eyes, but at the same time making me smile at seeing the wonderful bonds that can occur between humans and animals. I am now 16, and still read this book on a regular basis! It is a MUST for anyone considering it! Also, it is a great gift for anyone you know who is involved with PETA, the ASPCA, or any other animal lovers!

This is the heart-warming, true-life story of a signing gorilla, Koko, and her life with researcher, Francine Patterson, and pet kitten, All Ball. The narrative contains interesting insights into gorilla mentality, emotions, and human-like qualities and abilities. Because Koko uses sign language, the story is a good one to read during Deaf Awareness Week to your elementary class or your own children. Note that the video by the same name, if available, plucks the heart-strings a little more in showing footage of Koko's interaction with her beloved Ball, grief after Ball's tragic accident, and Koko's introduction to her new kitten.