When all ball was hit by a car, kokos grief at the loss of her. Francine patterson earned her graduate degree in developmental psychology from stanford university. Oct 30, 2018 in late 1985 patterson wrote the book kokos kitten patterson, 1985 to tell the story, highlighting the gentle nature of gorillas and kokos intelligence, ability to use sign language for communication, and her empathy for other living things. Ron cohn 1985 this awardwinning classic recounts the real life experience of koko the gorilla, her love for a tailless tabby she named allball, and her grief when the kitten died. If a book were being written about koko and all ball, which title would best summarize. Patterson is better at teaching primates sign language than coming up with cool names for gorilla languages. Sep 25, 2017 betty white was on the gorilla foundations board for over 10 years 2004 2016 and visited koko several times during that period. This is the true story of koko the gorilla and her kitten, all ball how they met, how koko loved and cared for all ball, and how koko grieved when all ball died. Recently, betty sent koko a signed copy of her book, if you.
This companion book to kokos kitten covers all aspects of the life of the gorilla that uses sign language. Koko, the thoughtful gorilla who captivated the world through her ability to use sign language and revealed an empathetic side to great apes, has died. This book expands kokos story, revealing what she was like as a very young gorilla, learning her first signs, using her first word food, and being as excited as penny when she did so. In late 1985 patterson wrote the book kokos kitten patterson, 1985 to tell the story, highlighting the gentle nature of gorillas and kokos intelligence, ability to use sign language for communication, and her empathy for other living things. The gorilla foundation said koko, the beloved western lowland gorilla that befriended robin williams and others, died in her sleep in northern california. This is the true story of her friendship with a kitten. Kokos kitten dvd based on the book and true story of koko and her kitten, allball. Buy a cheap copy of kokos kitten book by francine patterson. Koko the gorilla, who used sign language and befriended mr. Kokos kitten 3 mini paperback books the gorilla foundation. This is the true story of koko the gorilla and her kitten, all ball how they met, how koko loved and cared for all.
Jun 21, 2018 the gorilla foundation said koko, the beloved western lowland gorilla that befriended robin williams and others, died in her sleep in northern california. Patterson, which she used to communicate her feelings and desires. Children of all ages will delight in learning how penny patterson began her doctorate work with a very young gorilla, koko. Visibly upset, the western lowland gorilla kept signing the words sad, frown, cry, bad and. The real life experience of koko, a gorilla in california who uses sign language, with a young kitten whom she loved and grieved over when it died. Kokos kitten is a nonfiction picture book for elementaryaged readers. The gorilla foundation, file to look into the eyes of a 300pound gorilla and have her tell you what shes thinking is truly humbling, actress betty. Koko became the most visible member of her species. Each minibook is a complete copy of the larger book photos and all. Jun 21, 2018 koko, the thoughtful gorilla who captivated the world through her ability to use sign language and revealed an empathetic side to great apes, has died. When she asks for a pet, her handlers search high and low for the perfect companion.
Koko was years old when she learned her beloved kitten, all ball, died after being hit by a car. Buy a cheap copy of koko s kitten book by francine patterson. Koko the gorillas most incredible moments, from sign language to playing with kittens. A childrens book called kokos kitten was written about it. Koko, the gorilla whose sign language abilities changed.
Over thirteen years, koko learned about five hundred words from dr. Koko knew an estimated 2,000 signs, played with dolls, painted, cared for five kittens, and met robin williams and mr. Patterson went on to write a book entitled kokos kitten. Conservation values curricula have been developed based on the book for children from grades k10. This selection is a school library journal best book of the year, as well as a reading rainbow selection and a new york academy of science honor book. This brief, moving book records kokos relationship with her pet. Koko was given a kitten on her birthday the next year, and was gentle and loving, treating it as a baby gorilla.
Ronald h cohn the real life experience of koko, a gorilla in california who uses sign language, with a young kitten whom she loved and grieved over when it died. Jun 21, 2018 koko, the gorilla whose apparent aptitude for sign language endeared her to fans around the world, died in her sleep on tuesday morning in california, according to the gorilla foundation, which. This is a true story about a gorilla named koko and her pet cat, all ball. Ron cohn awardwinning classic childrens book recounts the true story of koko the gorilla and her love for a tailless tabby kitten she named allball. She also appeared a second time on the cover in january 1985, in a story about koko and her pet kitten. According to, the average lifespan of a lowland gorilla is 3035 years in the wild, 3545 years in a zoo.
Koko gained public attention upon a report of her having adopted a kitten as a pet and creating a name for him. Kokos kitten would later be published in braille 1995, french 1997, and japanese 2002. When gifted with a stuffed animal, she continually signed sad. The affection and caring in the relationships between dr. Koko became world famous in the 1980s after national geographic reported on the gorillas adoption of a pet kitten. Koko is a famous gorilla because she knows and uses sign language to communicate with the humans that take care of her. Koko, the gorilla that met robin williams and learned sign. Koko was given a pet kitten by researchers in 1984. Francine patterson reissue edition paperback198761 by aa jan 1, 1994. With her linguistic skill, she asked for, and finally received, the small, tailless tabby kitten she promptly named all ball. Koko was known for her impressive sign language skills as well as her fierce. The gorilla foundation is about to digitize the entire 46year project koko research archive, so that all of the data videos, coded notes, art, etc.
Distributed 25,000 kokos kitten books in cameroon with the help of penelope fraser, tony rose, and cameroon educators. To the amazement of her human handlers, she seemed able to capture the joys and annoyances of maternal love in strings of. This book shows how koko the gorilla learned sign language and expresses her feelings through signage. The book follows koko through her grieving and recovery process as she mourns all ball and finally meets her new red tabby kitten. Ron cohn awardwinning classic childrens book recounts the true story of koko the gorilla and. Ron cohn award winning classic childrens book recounts the true story of koko the gorilla and. In the education of koko, an adult title, patterson described her successful career as a teacher and caretaker of a female gorilla, koko. Michael, the young male intended to be koko s mate when they mature, is introduced, and is given koko s second kitten, lipstick, who preferred him to koko. Koko was the reason i became interested in gorillas. And for her 44th birthday over the summer, caregivers at the gorilla foundation in california arranged for koko to spend some time with a box full of kittens. Patterson went on to write a book entitled koko s kitten. Koko wants a pet kitten, and she asks for one using asl. This book expands koko s story, revealing what she was like as a very young gorilla, learning her first signs, using her first word food, and being as excited as penny when she did so. Koko the talking gorilla whimpered with grief and discussed the death of her pet kitten, struck and killed by a car, for several days after getting the bad news, her teachers say.
Patterson began working with koko in 1972 at the san francisco zoo. Koko, the gorilla who knew sign language, died at 46. Though the book is called kokos kitten, the picture book biography of a gorilla tells much more than just that one little snippet of her life. Watch as koko the gorilla falls in love with a box full of. Koko the gorilla s most incredible moments, from sign language to playing with kittens.
Kokos kitten by francine patterson paperback book the. Why koko the gorilla, who mastered sign language, mattered. Koko the gorilla doted on her pet kitten as if it were her own child. Koko the gorilla uses sign language to talk to her handlers. Koko still gets sad when she sees a picture of a tailless kitten. I bought this book for my own children when they were preschoolers, and continue to read it every year to my second. The gorilla foundation would like to move koko to an ape preserve. Parents need to know that kokos kitten is the true story of a gorilla who asks via american sign language for a pet cat, and then expresses anger and. Betty white was on the gorilla foundations board for over 10 years 2004 2016 and visited koko several times during that period. A 1985 book, kokos kitten, told their story koko was 46 when she died. Koko, gorilla famed for using sign language and crying. Michael, the young male intended to be kokos mate when they mature, is introduced, and is given kokos second kitten, lipstick, who preferred him to koko. Koko, the famous gorilla who can speak via a sign language vocabulary of more than 1,000 words, loves babies and kittens. Patterson and koko and between koko and her kitten are captured in ronald cohns beautiful photographs.
Our children, and now our grandchildren, loved having this book read to them and enjoyed the beautiful pictures. Koko the gorillas most incredible moments, from sign. She was give a tiny kitten and oh, how she loved it. According to, the average lifespan of a lowland gorilla. This touching true, photographed story illustrates our similarities to these beautiful primates and what it means to love. All ball was groomed, played with, cuddled and loved, and never once showed fear of her large fostermother, outlandish though she might seem to feline eyes. Koko is a lowland mountain gorilla who lives with the scientist, dr. Koko, the gorilla whose apparent aptitude for sign language endeared her to fans around the world, died in her sleep on tuesday morning in california.
This book inspired my respect for the rights, dignity, and intelligence of animals, and led to heated arguments with my teacher in 6th grade and my friends in college. One of the desires she was able to express through asl was for a kitten. Jun 22, 2018 koko, a western lowland gorilla who was born and raised at the san francisco zoo, died in her sleep at the age of 46. The gorilla foundation was established in 1976 and is best known for its. Francine patterson, the first person to communicate with a gorilla using american sign language. Koko, the gorilla whose sign language abilities changed our. Koko the gorilla biography birthday, trivia american. Children will giggle at all the funny, silly, and amazing things koko expresses through sign language.
Koko, gorilla famed for using sign language and crying over. Redrew the lines of animalhuman communication koko fascinated and elated millions of people with her facility for language and her ability to interact with humans. Kokos teacher, animal psychologist francine patterson, subsequently published a. Wonderful book to share with children about koko, the talking gorilla, who had a kitten pet named all ball. Francine penny patterson, an animal psychologist, started teaching koko a version of sign language that she called gorilla sign language gsl, because dr. When the kitten was hit by a car, koko grieved for months, and signed sad bad trouble. Koko rose from talented gorilla to household name in 1978 when national geographic published her mirror selfie on their cover. Jun 25, 2018 koko was born in the san francisco zoo in 1971. Hanabiko koko july 4, 1971 june 19, 2018 was a female western lowland gorilla known. In grade one, i started reading all the books in the library about monkeys, which then lead to an extremely focused study of all primates. Koko treated the kitten like it was her baby, cradling it in her arms and even trying to nurse it. This brief, moving book records koko s relationship with her pet. How koko forever changed the way we think about gorillas.
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