Ready, Set, GOrilla! 
November 13, 2018
by Melissa Stoller  (Author), Sandy Steen Bartholomew  (Illustrator)
https://www.amazon.com/Ready-Set-Gorilla-Melissa-Stoller/dp/1946101699/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Ready%2C+Set%2C+GOrilla%21&qid=1587586708&sr=8-1
34 5-star reviews (100%)

Sample Reviews:
    

• A great book on playing fair! 
  By Sdsutter  on November 30, 2018

There is no one left to race with when Gorilla runs off his friends by winning at all costs. Gopher and Cheetah show up, but Gorilla soon learns that they don't like losing either. Hmmm.... that might be a problem. This book is perfect for learning to respect rules and play fair. Gorilla is fun and cute, even when he isn't acting that way, which will bring kids back to read it over and over. Lots of laughs, with a great message, too!
    

• Fun Story!
  By Ellen L on December 22, 2018

I just read this adorable book to my grandson. It came at a perfect time since we were recently discussing that winning at any cost is not the best goal. This book has a wonderful read-aloud quality that will bring your little ones back time after time. Ready, Set, READ!

• Friendship and Fair Play
  By Elaine Asaidali on November 18, 2019

Gorilla is used to winning at any cost until Gopher and Cheetah give him a taste of his own medicine. A humorous and fast-paced story that teaches kids about playing fair. Ready, Set, Gorilla! is a great book for any home, library or classroom.

• Is Winning all that Important?
  By Kathy Shanahan on February 4, 2019

A fun, fast paced story of friendship being more important than competition and winning. Likable characters and whimsical illustrations make this appealing to young children. An important lesson here for all children to learn.

• Love the GOrilla refrain! I think kids will too.
  By Alayne Kay Christian on December 14, 2018

Ready set GOrilla is a fun refrain throughout the book that I imagine young readers (and listeners) will love saying along with the story. But that’s just part of the fun that Melissa Stoller’s words and Sandy Steen Bartholomew’s illustrations have created. The art is so full of life. The colorful, large text that pops up in addition to the regular text just adds to the design of this book. Younger kids will most likely enjoy listening while studying all that is going on in the illustrations where older kids will likely enjoy reading because of the fun layout. So, on to the story. It’s hard to make friends when you will do anything to win no matter whom it might harm. But this cheating gorilla finally meets his match—a confident, smart-thinking, muscle-flexing, knuckle-cracking gopher. The two of them battle it out until another “win at all cost” competitor shows up, and they find that perhaps they’ve been doing things all wrong all along. This is an excellent story to get kids thinking about losing versus winning, being treated the way you would like to be treated, the purpose of rules, and much more.

• 5 Stars for Favorite Read Aloud
  By TeachCA on April 30, 2019

Fair play is the name of the game in Melissa Stoller’s “Ready, Set, Gorilla!” When cheating Gorilla invites animals to race, games don’t seem so fun. When Gorilla is soon confronted by another cheater, Gorilla meets his match. Who will eventually win will keep the reader guessing with a most surprising twist and the most surprisingly satisfying ending ever! One of our favorite parst of this teasure-worthy picture book is how the title, “Ready, Set, Gorilla!” is continually incorporated into the story – and also how the phrase evolves. “Ready, Set, Gorilla!” is so fun to read aloud, and the illustrations with cheeky Gorilla (and the accompaniment of animal characters) are so engaging – you’ll see!

• Winning At All Costs
  By Sharon Coffey on December 2, 2018

Gorilla loves to race. He’ll do anything to win, including cheating. One by one, Gorilla loses all his friends. Find out what happens when Gorilla gets a taste of his own medicine. This is a story children can easily connect with. Everyone knows a Gorilla or two. The GO play on words adds a fun read aloud element. Bartholomew’s funny illustrations will have you laughing out loud. The animals are active, expressive and cute as can be.  Favorite Line: “Off they raced . . . And everyone was a winner.”

• Ready... Set... GO get this book!
  By Marcia Berneger on December 1, 2018

Ready, Set, GOrilla is a sweet story, gently showing young readers that friends don't like cheaters. Gorilla like to race but he LOVES to win, even if he has to cheat to beat everyone. But when Gopher agrees to race, Gorilla finds he's met his match. Then, along comes Cheetah, the biggest cheater of all. With adorable illustrations and a subtle, yet important message, this book will quickly become a child's favorite story.

• The race is on!
  By Jenna Grodzicki on December 17, 2018

Ready, Set, GOrilla! is a delightful story with a subtle but important message. Gorilla loves to race, but he often resorts to cheating to ensure a victory. When Gopher and Cheetah come to town, Gorilla may have met his match. The adorable illustrations complement the text perfectly. This book is must-have for any classroom or library!

• Gorilla's ready to GO!
  ​By Jolene Gutierrez on February 7, 2019

Gorilla wants to win. He's so competitive that his friends get hurt when they race him. When Gopher takes a shortcut in a race and Cheetah is a cheater, Gorilla gets a taste of his own medicine. He wants to win, but he also wants friends. Can Gorilla learn how to play fair? Filled with fun language and engaging illustrations, kids will love Gorilla, and the book will give you a chance to discuss good sportsmanship and teamwork.

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