A Troop Is a Group of Monkeys
Here’s my choice for Perfect Picture Book Friday:
A Troop is a Group of Monkeys
Written by Julie Hedlund
Illustrated by Pamela Baron
Little Bahalia Publishing LLC, 2013
Non-Fiction
Suitable for ages: 2 and up
Themes/Topics: animals
Opening line: A parliament of owls hoots in the night.
Synopsis from Amazon.com: A surfeit of skunks, a troop of monkeys, a clutter of spiders these colorful and poetic words for animal groups are called collective nouns and children will learn all about them in this rhyming picture book by Julie Hedlund. With beautiful painted illustrations by Pamela Baron, each animal group is brought to life in color-splashed environments sure to fascinate any child. The magnificent illustrations and playful use of language make it perfect for design-savvy parents and inspired gift givers. First published as a series of interactive book apps for the iPad, A Troop is a Group of Monkeys has received much industry praise and was included in the Top 50 Apps for Kids in 2013.
Links to Resources: There’s a note on the last page saying A Troop is a Group of Monkeys is meant to be enjoyed as part of a complete lesson plan. Visit littlebahalia.com for sheet music, curriculum guides and reading strategies. Both apps, and this book, meet Core Curriculum standards. Both A Troop is a Group of Monkeys and A Shiver of Sharks are available in the App Store and provide interaction with the animals.
Why I like this book: I enjoy the simplicity of this story for bedtime or anytime. The rhythm and the animals make us want to read this again and again. The collective nouns are fun for children and parents too. The book is a combination of the two apps A Troop is a Group of Monkeys and A Shiver of Sharks.
Most of the animals found in the apps are in the book. My only beef: Where are the hippos! I miss the bloat of hippopotami. Of course, that’s why I have an app for that — my hippopotomi fix!
I was able to purchase a copy of the book at the Rocky Mountain Chapter SCBWI conference bookstore. Julie signed my copy to Enzo. So that made this picture book perfect for our family.
Find more Perfect Picture Books on Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog. Hope you have a great weekend.