FICTION

A Crash of Rhinos: And Other Wild Animal Groups

by Greg DANYLYSHYN
illus. by Stephan Lomp. 40p. ebook available. S. & S./Little Simon. Jan. 2016. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781481431507. LC 2014036792.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 2—While children will be familiar with such terms as a school of fish and a flock of birds, they will be surprised and amused by the unusual names given to other animal groups. Through a smoothly flowing rhyming text, readers are introduced to a sleuth of bears, a cry of hounds, a tower of giraffes, etc. The vivid digitally rendered illustrations take the terms literally, so the bears are dressed like Sherlock Holmes, and the committee of vultures are seated at a boardroom table listening to a presentation. Other humorous details abound.
VERDICT While not an essential purchase, this colorful introduction to collective nouns should have broad child appeal and is guaranteed not to be a shelf-sitter.
Reviewed by Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ
This jaunty look at collective terms for animal groups depicts the humorous activities suggested by each name: a "committee" of tie-wearing vultures votes in a boardroom; a "sleuth" of bears searches for clues. Although the rhyming text plays fast and loose with poetic meter, the wacky antics and vibrant, digitally rendered illustrations provide an engaging introduction to the unique vocabulary of collective nouns.
 , Jan 01, 2016

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