MARJORIE BLAIN PARKER
Children's Book Author

"This ABC book provides a delightfully offbeat introduction to collective nouns, featuring groups of animals at a Riviera-like resort locale with palm trees and a seaside Ferris wheel. An “army of Ants” closes in on an anteater's doughnuts (he's too busy with his laptop and coffee to notice), while a “bloat of Hippos” work out on exercise bikes. Even better than learning some of the unusual ways to refer to multiple animals is the way Kelly's soft-focus oil and acrylic paintings riff on the terms themselves. Thus, a “gang of Elk” and “skulk of Foxes” look appropriately rowdy, and a “labor of Moles” in hardhats are seen doing excavation work. The anthropomorphic animals feel anatomically authentic, but with exaggerated joie de vivre to spare." PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, Starred Review

"Prepare to be amazed. This book not only has the most gorgeous, multi-dimensional and endearing illustrations, but the text is amusing and scientifically accurate. The author and illustrator give the ultimate visuals to groups of animals such as a labor of moles and an ostentation of peacocks (I looked up all of the group names and they’re completely accurate). This one is a new favorite and a definite keeper; children and adults will really enjoy this book together.

Featuring groups of animals from an army of ants to a herd of zebras, this book takes young children on a wildly imaginative tour through a zany animal kingdom. Each group of animals is described using a collective noun (for example, a skulk of foxes, a nest of vipers, a labor of moles). Joseph Kelly s richly detailed illustrations show animals engaged in gently surreal play on a summer day in various park-like settings. Young readers will revel in the visual jokes and puns on every page." KIWI MAGAZINE

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