Murilla Gorilla and the Lost Parasol - by Jennifer Lloyd

About the Book

Detective Murilla Gorilla helps Parrot search for a parasol that has gone missing from his parasol stand.

Book Synopsis

A rainstorm has passed through Mango Market.
Parrot is upset by a missing parasol at his parasol stand.
It is up to Murilla, the disorganized, messy and seemingly hopeless detective to solve the case. Can she do it? Of course she wants to help her friend, but first Murilla needs to find her magnifying glass.

Review Quotes

A spring 2014 Best Book for Kids and Teens selection, by the Canadian Children's Book Centre!

"A rainstorm drives Murilla Gorilla out of her home and into the Mango Market, where mops and mysteries await. A yellow parasol has gone missing from Parrot's parasol stand. Murilla is organizationally challenged as usual, yet she manages to solve the case with smarts rather than her magnifying glass. Little details help to keep Murilla endearing rather than frustrating, such as the mismatched shoes by the side of her bed and her ever-present cheery pink cheeks. The playful silliness of the book will appeal to emerging readers. Give this one to fans of Amelia Bedelia--Murilla Gorilla has the same sort of clueless charm."
Booklist

"Murilla the gorilla employs her detecting talents to track down a missing parasol. Not surprisingly, it is raining in the African rain forest. It has rained right through Murilla's roof, so she makes her way to the market, which, despite the rain, is all sunny colors, like the inside of a cupcake shop. Before Murilla can buy a new mop, Parrot requests help in tracking down a missing parasol from his shop. (In the rain forest, parasols are a hot commodity.) Dear Murilla, who, as the forest's resident detective, has as much focusing power as Mr. Magoo, bumbles her way to the solution--elementary, but as gratifying as a ray of light breaking through the clouds, and one that allows all the citizens of the forest to remain innocent. This early reader is a pleasure but no gimme. There is plenty to challenge, starting with parasol but also magnifying glass, mandrill, okapi, chimpanzee and hammocks. This on top of Lee's illustrations, which are not so much busy as full, especially with the mayhem of Murilla's life. Despite that, there is a sense of equanimity; Murilla won't, can't, is utterly clueless about being hurried, and it is easy to imagine holding her hand and sauntering along as she uncovers what happened. All the fun of a mystery carried on the rhythm of the tropics."
Kirkus Reviews

"Murilla Gorilla is back in her follow-up to Murilla Gorilla: Jungle Detective. Author Jennifer Lloyd and illustrator Jacqui Lee continue telling Murilla's mystery-solving stories with their charming combination of easy-to-read text and beautiful watercolour illustrations...The Lost Parasol builds on the characters and settings used in Jungle Detective, allowing readers to encounter some familiar faces and places. The story can also stand on its own for readers who are just discovering Murilla. The format of the book, with short chapters and sentences in a balanced page layout, is essentially identical to the first book of the series and once again provides emerging readers with an easy-to-read first chapter book experience.

Murilla Gorilla and the Lost Parasol is a fantastic follow-up to the first book in this series. Readers, as well as parents, teachers, and librarians, will surely be eagerly awaiting the next installment in Murilla's mystery solving adventures."
CM Magazine 4/4 STARS REVIEW!

Praise for the Murilla Gorilla Series:

Murilla Gorilla, Jungle Detective is a 2013 Alcuin Society Award for Excellence in Book Design second prize winner, and was selected as a 2014 Canadian Toy Testing Council 'Recommended Read', a 2013 Ontario Library Association 'Best Bets for Children', and a 2013 Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids and Teens STAR!

Murilla Gorilla and the Lost Parasol is a spring 2014 Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids and Teens selection!

Murilla Gorilla and the Hammock Problem is a 2014 Alcuin Awards for Excellence in Book Design first prize winner!

"Readers will be hungry for more."
New York Times

"Will delight emerging readers."
School Library Journal

"Charming."
Publisher's Weekly

"This early reader is a pleasure."
Kirkus Reviews

"The playful silliness of the book will appeal to emerging readers. Give this one to fans of Amelia Bedelia--Murilla Gorilla has the same sort of clueless charm."
Booklist

"Maybe this series should be called 'My First Page Turner.'"
Barnes & Noble Kids Blog

About the Author

Jennifer Lloyd is the author of Ella's Umbrellas, One Winter Night and Looking for Loons. When she is not at her writing desk, she works as a kindergarten teacher in Blainville, Quebec. Her students provide her with a wealth of ideas, as do her own two children. Jennifer loves teaching beginning writing to her students, many learning in a second language. She also gives workshops in classrooms around the Laurentians and Montreal.

Jacqui Lee graduated from the Alberta College of Art and Design with a Bachelor of Design, and currently lives and works in London, UK. This is her first book.