Book Resume
for King Kong's Cousin by Mark Teague
Professional book information and credentials for King Kong's Cousin.
4 Professional Reviews
1 Book Award
Selected for 1 State/Province List
See full Book Resume
on TeachingBooks
- School Library Journal:
- Pre-K - Grade 1
- Booklist:
- Pre-K - Grade 2
- Kirkus:
- Ages Toddler - 6
- TeachingBooks:*
- Grades PK-2
- Lexile Level:
- 530L
- Genre:
- Humor
- Picture Book
- Year Published:
- 2022
3 Subject Headings
The following 3 subject headings were determined by the U.S. Library of Congress and the Book Industry Study Group (BISAC) to reveal themes from the content of this book (King Kong's Cousin).
4 Full Professional Reviews
The following unabridged reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers. Reviews may be used for educational purposes consistent with the fair use doctrine in your jurisdiction, and may not be reproduced or repurposed without permission from the rights holders.
Note: This section may include reviews for related titles (e.g., same author, series, or related edition).
From School Library Journal
August 12, 2022
PreS-Gr 1-It's hard for Junior, a normal gorilla living in a New York apartment building with his mother and cat, Bernice, not to compare himself to his famous and much bigger and stronger cousin, King Kong. Kong wrestles dinosaurs and climbs skyscrapers, while Junior does chores like hanging laundry and feeding his goldfish, Larry. Junior doesn't believe his mom, who says, "You're just as special as your cousin." Readers see him lifting weights, eating bamboo, and marking his height in valiant attempts to measure up. Then Junior attends the Thanksgiving Day Parade (where Kong is grand marshal, of course), where he completes a sweet act of heroism when he's able to rescue Bernice from a tree. In a charming nod to black-and-white films, Teague's illustrations depict sharp contrasts between Kong's heroic and exciting life and Junior's normal one. Young readers will love seeing that Junior can be a hero in his own right. VERDICT This story would work well for a preschool read-aloud and will be welcomed on the shelves by children who strive to be taller and stronger. An easy purchase for public libraries.-Carrie Voliva
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
From Booklist
August 1, 2022
Preschool-Grade 2 Two cousins, both gorillas, live very different lives. Enormously strong, courageous, and famous throughout their city, Kong is as large as an apartment building. Junior, who exercises, eats his bamboo, and rivals his cat (Bernice) in strength, lives in an apartment building. Kong wrestles dinosaurs. Junior practices piano. Kong performs heroic deeds for city residents. Junior does chores for his mother. "You're just as special as your cousin," she assures him, but Junior can't help feeling that his achievements fall short of his cousin's. Still, when Bernice climbs up a tree and can't get down, it's Junior who rescues her, earning his cat's gratitude, his mother's praise, and the feeling that he's grown a little bigger. Teague's engaging text, which introduces the cousins through a series of contrasts, leads readers to admire Kong and to love Junior. Rendered in acrylics using black, white, and blue-tinged shades of gray, the dynamic illustrations reference the original black-and-white movie King Kong (1933) in the book's New York City setting. A rewarding picture book that's fun for reading aloud.
COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
From Publisher's Weekly
June 6, 2022
While building-size King Kong plays big cheese in the Big Apple, his far more diminutive cousin Junior lives an ordinary New York City apartment life with his mother and beloved cat, Bernice. Kong stars in movies and wrestles dinosaurs (heroic actions uniformly viewed as the stuff of celebrity); Junior hangs laundry and feeds his goldfish, Larry. Junior's mother insists that he is "just as special as your cousin," but Junior's not so sure; he constantly checks his height, exercises, and even sneaks a snack of "Super Grow Fish Food." On Thanksgiving Day-Kong is the city parade's grand marshall, of course-Bernice gets stuck in a tree, and Junior doesn't think twice before climbing up to rescue her (even though the ground is "very far away"). Teague (Cat Dog) tells his story with elegance and emotional authenticity; grayscale acrylic art winks at the classic film with details that reward close reading, while Junior's yearning to be like his huge cousin scans more like a low-grade fever than an obsession-one mitigated not by a grand act of heroism but by helping someone he loves. Ages up to 8.
From Kirkus
June 1, 2022
Junior, a young gorilla, grows up in the shadow of King Kong, his far more famous cousin. The comparisons between the two are constant. King Kong is as big as a building; Junior is small enough to live in an apartment. While King Kong is as strong as four elephants, Junior is only about as strong as Bernice, his cat. Kong scales skyscrapers; Junior climbs up on the piano bench. And King Kong does "heroic things," while Junior feeds his goldfish. Junior has grand dreams, though, so he eats his bamboo, does his exercises, and keeps track of his height on the wall to make sure he is growing big and strong, just like his famous cousin. When his beloved Bernice is in danger, Junior proves that heroism does not require massive strength but strength of character. Teague's appealing grayscale acrylic illustrations and vintage New York City scenery recall the golden age of film in which King Kong was first made famous. This is a cozy family read to enjoy together and reiterates the vital lesson that even small people can do great things. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A timeless lesson combined with vintage vibes for a comforting read-along. (Picture book. 2-6)
COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
1 Book Awards & Distinctions
King Kong's Cousin was recognized by committees of professional librarians and educators for the following book awards and distinctions.
1 Selection for State & Provincial Recommended Reading Lists
King Kong's Cousin was selected by educational and library professionals to be included on the following state/provincial reading lists.
United States Lists (1)
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This Book Resume for King Kong's Cousin is compiled from TeachingBooks, a library of professional resources about children's and young adult books. This page may be shared for educational purposes and must include copyright information. Reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers.
*Grade levels are determined by certified librarians utilizing editorial reviews and additional materials. Relevant age ranges vary depending on the learner, the setting, and the intended purpose of a book.
Retrieved from TeachingBooks on January 31, 2025. © 2001-2025 TeachingBooks.net, LLC. All rights reserved by rights holders.