  | Solitary animals : introverts of the wild Author: Stein, Joshua David | |
| Price: $23.78 | ||
Summary:
This lyrical, nonfiction text honors animals who live in solitude, in contrast to others who live in groups. Against a backdrop of the specific names of various animal tribes (a parade of elephants, a tower of giraffes, a dazzle of zebras), Stein shines a spotlight on those animals who go through life on their own.
| Illustrator: | Ramsey, Dominique |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: LG Reading Level: 2.50 Points: .5 Quiz: 519510 |
Reviews:
School Library Journal (00/01/22)
Booklist (12/01/21)
The Hornbook (+) (00/01/22)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 12/01/2021 Stein introduces one aspect of animals’ social behavior (whether they live in groups or alone) in this boldly illustrated picture book. To accomplish this, he utilizes playful collective nouns to contrast animal groups with solitary creatures that thrive on their own. The book opens at a watering hole, where a dazzle of zebras and tower of giraffes gather—and a lone black panther quietly lurks nearby. Similar scenarios are provided for wildlife in the sea and sky, but the illustrations are what will truly catch the reader’s attention. Ramsey creates dynamic, large-format scenes full of drama and vibrant colors that pop against their backgrounds. For example, a bald eagle poses regally against a swath of blue sky, and a mesmerizing school of fish, shown only in blue silhouette, spirals into the ocean’s inky black depths. At the very end of the book, readers will find a Q&A section about what it means to be a solitary animal and how they survive being alone. An edifying and entrancing book that works well in group and solitary settings. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 01/01/2022 PreS-Gr 1—This picture book highlights a random assortment of solitary animals. Groups of animals are highlighted and the appropriate collective noun used to describe them. For example, a "tower of giraffes" is juxtaposed with the solitary jaguar. Hummingbirds are a "charm," but eagles fly solo. Little more is explained about individual animals, and there is the odd switch, when a "swarm of swallows" is then called a gulp. Except for the alliteration, this will confuse readers. Brilliantly colored digital illustrations of the individual animals are sometimes realistic and sometimes less so. Very simple text introduces each animal and their collective nouns. The beauty of the illustrations could provide a jumping-off point to exploring individual animals in greater detail and could encourage a discussion of collective names. In addition, students could explore the details of why some animals live in groups and some do not. VERDICT With lovely illustrations and a variety of animal collective nouns, this book is meant for browsing.—Susan Lissim - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
