As a digital subscriber, you’ll receive unlimited access to Horn Book web exclusives and extensive archives, as well as access to our highly searchable Guide/Reviews Database.
To access other site content, visit The Horn Book homepage.
To continue you need an active subscription to hbook.com.
Subscribe now to gain immediate access to everything hbook.com has to offer, as well as our highly searchable Guide/Reviews Database, which contains tens of thousands of short, critical reviews of books published in the United States for young people.
Thank you for registering. To have the latest stories delivered to your inbox, select as many free newsletters as you like below.
No thanks. Return to article
32 pp.
| Candlewick
| June, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-9599-6$15.99
(3)
PS
In this companion to Hug, Tall, and others, young chimpanzee Bobo would rather play in the jungle than go to bed--at least until "Dark" turns out to be scary. Like the previous books, Play features comics-style panels with limited speech-bubble text and expressive pen-and-ink illustrations. Bobo has pleasantly grown as a character, with an expanding vocabulary and a desire for independent exploration before snuggling up with Mommy: "Bedtime."
32 pp.
| Quarto/Lincoln
| October, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-1-78603-231-7$14.99
(4)
K-3
Little People, Big Dreams series.
Illustrated by
Beatrice Cerocchi.
Each appealing picture-book biography spotlights a famous woman and her accomplishments, foregrounding the influence of childhood experiences. Vegara emphasizes empowerment and tackles difficult issues (such as slavery in Tubman) with honesty and sensitivity, but overall the texts are pretty simplistic. The illustrations (each book by a different artist) vary greatly in style. Back matter includes photos and/or paintings along with more detailed biographical information. Reading list. Review covers these Little People, Big Dreams titles: Harriet Tubman, Jane Austen, Jane Goodall, L. M. Montgomery, and Simone de Beauvoir.
32 pp.
| Candlewick
| November, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-9498-2$16.99
(3)
K-3
Willy the smartly dressed chimpanzee (Willy's Stories and others) is on his way to the park when he notices a cloud following him. Willy goes home and hides, but the cloud won't go away until he confronts it. Even if the youngest readers don't relate to Willy's grown-up appearance in Browne's exquisite mixed-media paintings, the story's message about facing worries is worthy and clearly conveyed.
(3)
YA
Women in Science series.
These thorough biographies of pioneering women in scientific and technical fields delve deeply into their personal and professional lives. The series includes frank and balanced discussions of both the successes and challenges each woman faced, as well as the qualities and intellect that drove her significant accomplishments. Numerous photographs of the scientists and additional information about their fields are included. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Women in Science titles: Marie Curie, Jane Goodall, Mae Carol Jemison, Rosalind Franklin, Grace Hopper, and Chien-Shiung Wu.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Alan Marks.
A baby chimpanzee, captured by the hunter who killed her mother, eventually finds sanctuary with a kind man and forms an attachment to his dog. As a postscript makes clear, this heartbreaking true story is calculated to generate support for Goodall's work with orphaned chimps ("Once [Rickie] needed Henri--now she needs you"), but it is engagingly told and illustrated with expressive art.
(4)
K-3
Bumba Books: Rain Forest Animals series.
Examining one animal per volume, this early science series offers quick, overly broad surveys of rainforest animals. Colorful layouts and close-up photographs enhance simple descriptions of each creature's appearance, behavior, life cycle, and habitat. Critical thinking questions scattered throughout provide the option for a more interactive reading experience. A basic anatomy chart is appended. Also available in Spanish. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Bumba Books: Rain Forest Animals titles: It's a Chimpanzee!, It's a Jaguar!, and It's a Vampire Bat!
(3)
K-3
Awesome Animal Heroes series.
This well-designed early-reader series, suitable for both independent and guided reading settings, introduces wildlife experts and champions of animals. In simply worded text and crisp stock photos, one-page chapters cover each subject's early life and influential work. A "Fun Facts" section and comprehension-testing review questions are appended. Glos. Review covers these Awesome Animal Heroes titles: Eugenie Clark, Jane Goodall, Temple Grandin, Cesar Millan, Jack Hanna, and Steve Irwin.
(3)
4-6
STEM Trailblazer Bios series.
The continuation of the series, this time featuring all-female science and technology innovators from modern history, will tie in well with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics curriculum objectives. The inspiring profiles touch on childhood, education, and the subjects' breakthrough accomplishments. A colorful, easy-to-read format features photos and "tech talk" sidebars with quotes, mostly from the "trailblazers" themselves. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these STEM Trailblazer Bios titles: Nuclear Physicist Chien-Shiung Wu, Programming Pioneer Ada Lovelace, Animal Scientist and Activist Jane Goodall, Environmentalist Rachel Carson, Astronaut Mae Jemison, Mathematician and Computer Scientist Grace Hopper, Computer Scientist Jean Bartik, and Vaccine Innovators Pearl Kendrick and Grace Eldering.
(3)
K-3
Animal Superstars series.
Each of these high-interest nonfiction-series titles offers short, engaging sentences alongside every spread's bold section title and crisp photos. Beginning readers can practice for fluency and discover intriguing animal facts along the way: chimpanzees can grasp with their feet, humpback whales sing together, etc. A short comprehension quiz is appended to each volume. Glos. Review covers the following Animal Superstars titles: Beaver, Chimpanzee, Humpback Whale, and Wolverine.
(4)
K-3
Amazing Animals series.
Vivid photographs providing up-close views of the daily lives and behavior of the title mammals are the highlights of these slim volumes. Minimal texts touch on habitat, appearance, diet, and offspring, and each supplies a folk-story answer to a question about the creature (e.g., "Why don't chimpanzees have tails? People in Africa tell a story about this..."). Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Amazing Animals titles: Skunks, Walruses, Antelopes, Chimpanzees, and Hippopotamuses.
(4)
K-3
Zoom In on Rain Forest Animals series.
These basic introductions to rainforest mammals offer cursory facts about appearance, habitat, food, and life cycle. Simple (if choppy) texts for emergent readers are adequately reflected in the accompanying photos. Each book's appendix includes comparisons of average weight, length, or height, some of which won't mean much to kids (e.g., at one hundred pounds, "a chimpanzee weighs as much as a toilet"). Glos., ind. Review covers these Zoom In on Rain Forest Animals titles: Chimpanzees, Jaguars, and Orangutans.
(4)
K-3
Zoom In on Great Women series.
The lives of six diverse, inspirational women--three of whom (Goodall, Yousafzai, and Winfrey) are still living--are summarized in this series, which aligns to Common Core Standards. Though only broadly chronicling their challenges and/or accomplishments, these offerings may spur interest in further study. The archival photographs included are noteworthy, and lists of quick stats and key dates are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Zoom In on Great Women titles: Anne Frank, Jane Goodall, Malala Yousafzai, Mother Teresa, Oprah Winfrey, and Rosa Parks.
32 pp.
| Candlewick
| November, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-7761-9$16.99
(3)
K-3
Willy the chimp recounts the adventures he experiences through his favorite books and invites readers to join him. Each full-page painting is both a Browne original and a visual reference to other famous works of art. Willy's reading list includes classics such as Robinson Crusoe, Peter Pan, and The Tinderbox, giving readers something of an education about the history of children's literature.
(4)
K-3
Kingfisher Readers series.
In each volume, an easy-to-read if choppy text provides basic information on the titular animal, touching on habitat, physical characteristics and adaptations, and diet. Written at a slightly more advanced level, Chimpanzees features topical two-page chapters. Relevant photos (to which the text periodically refers) provide resting points and often illustrate the concepts. Glos. Review covers these Kingfisher Readers titles: Seals and Chimpanzees.
(4)
K-3
A+ Books: Awesome African Animals series.
These large books use simple texts, impressive photos, and colorful graphics to introduce African mammals. The language is engaging ("Slurp!...Squirt!...Spray!"), though some information is pretty superficial ("Your neck has seven bones too. They are much smaller than a giraffe's though!"; "[Elephant] calves look like small adults"). Each book includes Common Core critical-thinking questions. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these A+ Books: Awesome African Animals titles: Giraffes Are Awesome, Lions Are Awesome, Meerkats Are Awesome, Chimpanzees Are Awesome, Zebras Are Awesome, and Elephants Are Awesome.
(4)
4-6
Great Minds of Science series.
Featuring innovative scientists, several from underrepresented groups, these biographies discuss childhood interests, study, diligence, and professional achievements, from tobacco farmer Banneker's almanac to Earle's underwater research and publications. Some effective primary material linked to online resources is included; frequent integrative questions and prompts may distract general researchers. Many photos and diagrams illustrate the text, though the pale-yellow-type captions aren't optimal. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Great Minds of Science titles: Charles Drew, George Washington Carver, Sylvia Earle, Jane Goodall, Charles Darwin, and Benjamin Banneker.
96 pp.
| National
| June, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4263-1518-3$18.99
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4263-1519-0$28.90
(2)
4-6
Foreword by Jane Goodall. This accessible account of Goodall's life explores her nontraditional entry to scientific fieldwork; the attention from the National Geographic Society that made her famous; her work ethic and innovative scientific methods; her efforts to reform the use of chimpanzees in research laboratories; and current technological advances in primate research. Silvey accompanies her main narrative with informative text boxes and vivid photographs. Map, timeline. Bib., ind.
Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
May, 2015
96 pp.
| Kids Can
| March, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-1-894786-96-6$16.95
|
PaperISBN 978-1-894786-97-3$7.95
(4)
4-6
Elephants Never Forget series.
With Esperança Melo. In this series-concluding graphic novel, elephant Otto travels to Hollywood to find his long-lost pal, Georgie the chimp. But his guide, Rupert, lures Otto to join his animal talent agency. After a few commercials and a brief respite at an elephant sanctuary, Otto finally reunites with his friend. Abundant silliness will make young readers laugh (even if they don't get every joke).
64 pp.
| Minedition
| December, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-988-8240-83-8$19.99
(3)
K-3
Photographs by
Michael Neugebauer.
In gentle, conversational prose, Goodall reveals the daily experiences of young chimpanzees living in Tanzania's Gombe National Park. The illuminating text and riveting documentary photographs immerse readers in Goodall's research, which focuses on the chimps' family connections and the similarities of their behavior to that of humans. Back matter provides more information about chimpanzee conservation efforts and Goodall's nonprofit and youth organizations.
40 pp.
| Minedition
| November, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-988-8240-90-6$9.99 New ed. (1998, North-South)
(4)
4-6
Illustrated by
Allan Marks.
Ten anecdotes illustrate some of the unexpected ways chimpanzees help one another overcome difficult situations, from wiping a sibling's runny nose to looking out for an orphaned adolescent. Goodall conveys a keen appreciation for the intellectual and emotional capabilities of these animals. The expressive pen-and-ink illustrations further bring out the animals' individuality. This "mini" book edition is intimate if text-heavy.
Reviewer:
59 reviews
Get connected. Join our global community of more than 200,000 librarians and educators.
This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.
We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing.