Finding Koko

A Wish for Koko by Julie Brinckloe

This book was created as a gift to the Gorilla Foundation.

100% of the proceeds will go directly to the Foundation to help all the Kokos of the World.

Photographs and likenesses of Koko, Penny and Michael © by Ron Cohn and the Gorilla Foundation Koko’s Kitten © by Penny Patterson, Ron Cohn and the Gorilla Foundation

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in whole or in part without prior written consent of Julie Brinckloe and the Gorilla Foundation.

Library of Congress U.S. Copyright Office Registration Number TXu 2-131-759 ISBN 978-0-578-51838-1

Printed in the U.S.A.

Thank You

This story needed inspired players to give it authenticity. I found them at La Honda Elementary School, a stone’s throw from where Koko lived her extraordinary life. And I found it in the spirited souls of Stella Machado and her family.

Principal Liz Morgan and teacher Brett Miller embraced Koko with open hearts, and the generous consent of parents paved the way for students to participate in the story.

Ms. Miller’s classroom was the creative, warm place I had envisioned. And her fourth and fifth grade students were the kids I’d crossed my fingers for. They lit up the story with exuberance, inspired by true affection for Koko and her friends.

I thank them all. And following the story they shall all be named.

I thank the San Francisco Zoo for permission to use my photographs taken at the Gorilla Preserve in this book.

I thank Koko’s lifetime photographer, Ron Cohn, for use of his brilliant, treasured photos of Koko, Penny and Michael.

I thank Dr. Gary Stanley, Chief Operating Officer of the Gorilla Foundation, for inspiring me to write this story.

And I thank Dr. Penny Patterson for devoting her radiant life to a gorilla named Koko, whose hands became a voice for all Great Apes by showing the world their bright and noble souls.

When the species learn to share, People of Earth become aware That love and light unite us all… Animal, human, great and small. ~jb

2 Chapter One

I love animals. I always have—and insects, too. But I never knew I would love a gorilla till I met Koko.

One morning at school I opened my backpack and found a little book inside. Momma was always doing that—sneaking something in with my lunch. Something she knew I‟d like.

Daddy did it, too. One day he made my lunch and stuck in a roll of pennies. People drop pennies and leave them. But I pick up every one I see and make a wish. And anyway they add up. My bank is full of them.

I read the cover, “Koko‟s Kitten.” A gorilla was looking down at a little kitten and holding it like a baby.

I couldn‟t believe it. Wouldn‟t a gorilla eat a kitten? Maybe it wasn‟t real. But my cat Collie used to sleep with Digger, my rat. They were best friends—and cats are supposed to eat rats.

Now I wanted to read it. It was hard to wait till lunch.

3 On warm days we eat outside and today it was nice. I sat under the giant tree near the lunch tables. No one came over so I had the whole tree to myself.

The book was by Dr. Francine Patterson. That was Koko‟s friend, Penny. On the first page she wrote, “Other animals are capable of telling us about themselves, if we can find the right way to ask them.”

Right away I liked this book, because it‟s what I believe, too.

Koko the gorilla was born at the zoo on the Fourth of July. She was named Hanabi-Ko, which is Japanese for Fireworks Child. And they called her Koko.

But then she got sick so they put her in the zoo nursery. And that‟s where she met Penny Patterson.

Penny was studying language and learning about gorillas. She learned they‟re smart and

4 have feelings like people. And she believed they could talk to people, too, if they had a way to do it. When Penny met Koko, she knew it was time to try.

So she did something no one had done before. She taught sign language to a gorilla. I looked at the picture of Penny and baby Koko. I could tell she already loved that gorilla.

Koko went to live with Penny and learned over 1,000 signs and 2,000 spoken words. She even made up words of her own.

When Koko shared her thoughts and feelings with Penny, Penny shared them with everyone.

Koko loved picture books. Gorillas and cats most of all. When Penny asked Koko what she wanted for her birthday, Koko signed, “Cat, cat, cat.”

Penny didn‟t know Koko meant a real cat. So when Koko unwrapped a black toy cat, she was so upset she covered it with a rag and threw it in the air.

I knew how Koko felt. Once I asked for a real rabbit for my birthday and got a wind-up one instead. I didn‟t throw it, but I wanted to.

Then one day Koko got her birthday wish. Penny‟s helper came with a litter of kittens and Koko got to choose one. She was so happy she signed, “Love that.”

She gave the kittens her blow test, which was blowing into their faces to learn more about them. Maybe like an interview.

Then she chose a little grey tabby and named him All Ball because he had no tail. She made that up herself.

Koko carried All Ball around like a baby gorilla, and kept him brushed and clean. She made up games called chase, blow-it and tickle. All Ball wasn‟t good at games but he loved to scratch

and bite. Koko told Penny he was “obnoxious.” That was so hilarious I laughed out loud.

6 Someone called over from the lunch tables.

“What‟s so funny?”

“Nothing,” I called back.

Today I didn‟t want to talk. I wanted to read.

Koko never scolded All Ball. She was always gentle and called him, “soft, good cat cat.” She loved All Ball like her own child, and he was never afraid.

Penny wanted to know if gorillas can record things they see. She gave Koko a canvas and paints and asked her to draw All Ball. And Koko did, using all the right colors. Penny got her answer, all right!

Then something terrible happened.

All Ball was hit by a car— and died.

I wasn‟t expecting that. My chest hurt, like it did when Collie died. One day she got sick, and we couldn‟t save her.

Penny had to tell Koko, and Koko cried and cried. She signed, “Sad, cry, frown.” When Collie died, I cried, too.

Later, when Penny asked her what happened to All Ball, Koko signed, “Sleep cat.” She understood what death was. And she signed “blind” because she would never see All Ball again.

People wrote letters to Koko to cheer her up. And one day something wonderful happened. Koko got another kitten! She held him and kissed him, and carried him around like All Ball. And she named him Lipstick.

I know she never forgot All Ball and I won‟t ever forget Collie. But Koko was happy again and so was I, because it was a happy ending.

Chapter Two

I closed the book and looked up into the tree—up through the branches to the sky. Koko would love this tree. It had big green leaves for shade, and sturdy branches for sitting. She could see all over from there.

She could see all over from there.