Gorilla Press Projects Overview

Writers are the unacknowledged legislators of society.
- Perce Bryce Shelley

Gorilla is awesome! I recommend it to any kid interested in art and writing.
- Shane Alexander, Gorilla Kid, Age 13

Books are unique: they are permanent, living sources of knowledge and creativity. The Gorilla Press helps kids seize the power of language to become life-long readers, writers, thinkers, and creators.

The importance of book-making in building and sustaining literacy cannot be overemphasized. New research demonstrates that writing is a fundamental key to a child’s current and future learning. As educational researchers Edwards and Maloy (1999) suggest, even pre-schoolers can and should write, because “...a cycle of successful learning is created between adults and children that stimulates the latter’s interest in language, reading, math, science, history, and many other topics.”

Writing opens new gateways to learning. Writing is fundamental to reading, and is a key component of all learning and communication in our information age. Children who are strong readers and writers, who are excited about learning, and who see themselves as creators of meaning, are the best prepared to succeed in today’s world.

Moreover, book-making develops social and analytic skills as well. Children work together to create their Gorilla books, and then, through publication, share their work with each other and the outside world. As writers and editors of Gorilla books, children become decision-makers who choose what to write, how to write, and where to place words and images on the page. They are in charge of the process, from start to finish, and are the directors of their own creation. “This is MY book,” each child can proudly proclaim.