Publishers Weekly Review
| Real-life animal-lover Gertie Lintz and Buddy, the gorilla she adopted in the 1930s, have one cosmopolitan adventure after another; the story was also the subject of a feature film from Jim Henson Pictures. All ages. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved |
School Library Journal Review
| Gr 3-4The suits and ties he wears, the dinners he eats at a formal table, and his shopping expedition to Bergdorf's would not be at all unusual for a human, but Buddy is a gorilla. Raised from infancy by wealthy and eccentric Gertrude Lintz, he is treated as any human companion might be. He grows from an adorable toddler to a rascally adolescent; but as he matures, Gertie begins to worry and, during a trip to the 1933 World's Fair, her fears are confirmed. Sumptuous as his accommodations are, Buddy is unused to close quarters. He becomes unhappy and makes a desperate dash for freedom and the African Safari ride. Back in New York, Buddy's emerging wildness forces Gertie to make a difficult decisionbut her kind heart and clever thinking find the perfect environment for Buddy and a happy ending for them all at the Philadelphia Zoo. Based on a true story, this brief chapter book first introduces the exuberant era, then dramatically sets the stage for Buddy's arrival in America, and propels readers into the fascinating Lintz household. Youngsters will empathize with Gertie, who must wistfully temper her childlike enthusiasm when faced with reality. Joyce's sepia-toned drawings are liberally sprinkled throughout the text in a family-album style and serve as visual vignettes of the period. An afterword provides additional information about the real Mrs. Lintz and Buddy; flap copy notes the recently released feature film of the same name. A captivating adventure story.Carol Ann Wilson, Westfield Memorial Library, NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. |
Booklist Review
| Gr. 4^-6, younger for reading aloud. Gertrude Lintz is getting a lot of attention these days. Those who have seen the recent movie, also entitled Buddy (for which this book is a tie-in), know that Lintz was a wealthy woman who brought a gorilla named Buddy into her already animal-filled home. Joyce is a wonderful bookmaker. The whole book has the deco feel of the 1930s in which the events took place: from the arresting cover picture featuring Buddy in a cashmere coat with Gertrude on his arm to the sepia-colored inside art to the striking typeface and design. Certainly kids will be taken by the story of a woman who treated her animals like people (right down to dressing them) and will be fascinated by what becomes of Buddy when the life of a family member is no longer right for him. The problem, however, is that there is no way to tell what events in the story actually happened. The book is "based on the true story of Gertrude Lintz," but other than an afterword, there are no sources. Even that is confusing. One of the main incidents is Buddy's escape from his pavilion at the 1933 World's Fair. Joyce says in his note, "[Lintz's apes] did in fact go to the World's Fair." But what does that mean as far as Buddy's escape goes? Fact or writer's embellishment? In a story this odd, it should be clear to the audience what's true and what isn't. --Ilene Cooper |
Horn Book Review
| Sepia-toned illustrations evoke the 1930s setting of this tale about an eccentric, animal-loving woman and her pet gorilla, Buddy. Lintz treats Buddy and the rest of her menagerie like children, dressing them up and feeding them at the table. Joyce includes fictional dialogue in the short chapters but recounts the true event that led Lintz to understand that Buddy would be happiest in a more natural environment at the zoo. From HORN BOOK 1997, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. |
