A Mom for Umande by Maria Faulconer (review)

When baby gorilla Umande is born in the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, his mother doesn’t know how to care for him. It’s therefore up to the zookeepers not only to feed him and nurture him but also to teach him gorilla behavior such as grooming, climbing, and gorilla manners (the keeper “makes happy grumbles” for good behavior and coughs in the youngster’s face when he gets too aggressive). After a bit more human care and some careful introductions, Umande is adopted by an experienced mama gorilla, Lulu, at the Columbus Zoo, and the two bond as mother and baby. Based on a real situation that occurred at these zoos, the story is compelling in its portrayal of zookeeping and gorilla habits as well as the motherchild focus that shapes its emotional core. Faulconer’s text is direct but often touching: “He wiggles in a mound of sweet hay, smelling the musky odor of the other gorillas, waiting for someone to pick him up. But nobody does.” Faces in the art are somewhat bland and generic, but her technique of rubbing, blotting, and scratching oil glazes onto sealed paper adds some needed texture and substance to the pictures, giving the gorilla-only scenes particular depth and aesthetic appeal. Wannabe zookeepers, primate fans, and maybe even families with human adoption or foster situations will find Umande’s experiences rewarding. A note gives more facts about Umande and Lulu.