The sombre opening pages of this remarkable picture book show us a small boy and his father leading a group of people away from something sad that has happened. The boy and his dad are somehow isolated from the group and from each other. Watching at a distance is a gorilla, and later, when the little boy is working outside in his Mum's garden, he is not surprised when the gorilla asks to help. He responds by saying, 'Ok' and then goes on, 'My mum has died.' 'I know,' says the gorilla, and the pattern of all their conversations follow in the same way. A question is asked and a simple, honest answer is made: 'How do you know when someone dies? Will we all die?' Where did Mum go?' Throughout their friendship there are questions and answers as the two share everything together. Dad continues isolated and soon the gorilla begins gently to suggest things that might help dad too. When the boy starts to make some decisions of his own and to understand better his own misery, he is able to go to his dad and tell him how much he misses mum. Together they begin a new relationship of talking and sharing memories, and the gorilla is able to hold them both in his big, gentle arms. Gradually, as the father and son become more able to talk and do things together, the gorilla moves further and further away because he is no longer needed. Beautiful and moving with no trace of sentimentality, the pictures, full of blacks, browns and greys with more colour as the story goes on, are redolent of sorrow and grief, while not being overbearing. The gorilla is the catalyst, and the boy's imagination is able to serve him at a serious time in his young life so that healing can begin. Outstanding.