Cha-Cha Chimps

by Julia Durango, Eleanor Taylor (Illustrator)

Overview

Counting and dancing gohand in hand at Mambo Jamba's,

the place where hippos hokey-pokey and meerkats macarena

and ten little chimps do the

Cha — Cha — Cha

until Mama Chimps says,

"Time for bed!"

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780689864568
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication date:	02/01/2006
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	841,763
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD650L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Julia Durango resides in Ottawa, Illinois, where she wrote a weekly book review column for children. She is the mother of two sons and is the author of Dream Hop, illustrated by Jared Lee, as well as Pest Fest, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus. Her work also includes Go-Go Gorillas, a sequel to Cha-Cha Chimps, both illustrated by Eleanor Taylor and Dream Away, illustrated by Robert Goldstrom. Her first novel The Walls of Cartagena was a Junior Library Guild Selection. Her most recent novel is entitled Sea of the Dead. She is a contributor the Three Silly Chicks blog and lives in Ottawa, Illinois.

Eleanor Taylor is the internationally beloved illustrator of numerous picture books, including Chicken in the Kitchen by Tony Johnston. Ellie and her husband live in London, England, with a son who isn't quite old enough to run around chattering like a monkey — but maybe this book will change that.

Editorial Reviews

Durango's (Dream Hop) tale stars a cast of childlike chimps who are more interested in dancing the night away than catching their zzz's. "Deep in the forest in the dim moonlight,/ ten little chimps sneak out for the night." They head to Mambo Jamba's, a hoppin' club where the chimps trade in their PJs for "boogie-woogie pants" and strut their stuff. Rhyming couplets chronicle the group's adventure as one by one they take new dance partners (and try new dance steps), and the refrain counts down from 10 to one ("Lion struts around/ like the royal king of cool./ But five minutes later/ he's a jitterbugging fool./ ee-ee-oo-oo-ah-ah-ah!/ 7 little chimps do the/ cha-cha-cha"). Taylor's (Chicken in the Kitchen) watercolors play a dual role: they cast a soft, moonlit glow on the dancers, while lending an extra vibe of excitement to their fancy footwork. Even when the music comes to a halt with the arrival of Mama Chimp, Durango still portrays the parent as someone who can appreciate a good time-after she tucks in her chimps, Mama dons her own dancing shoes. Ages 2-6. (Feb.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 2-In this rollicking counting book, 10 little chimps sneak out of their tree house to go dancing at Mambo Jamba's, where a pig band plays music all night long. One by one, each monkey jives with a different jungle animal, and a rhythmic verse describes that particular creature's style ("Rhino hustles in/just to prove he's got the groove./Shake it, Rhino! Shake it, boy!/Let's see that body move"). Meanwhile, the remaining siblings boogie to the repeated refrain ("ee-ee-/oo-oo-/ah-ah-ah!/9 little chimps do the/cha-cha-cha"). The rhymes roll easily off the tongue, making the text fun to read aloud. However, there is no indication-either verbal or visual-of where each chimp goes as the book counts down from 10 to 1, but they all reappear at the end when Mama Chimp arrives to take them home. Once they are tucked in bed, she calls a babysitter so that she can put on her own dancing shoes. Done in watercolor and pencil, the illustrations are bright and lively, and each chimp is clothed in a unique and colorful outfit. The jungle animals are also fabulously costumed. All in all, the cha-cha-cha chant and upbeat artwork make this book a good storytime addition.-Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Deep in the forest, ten little chimps sneak out to Mamba Jamba's for some dancing: "ee-ee-oo-oo-ah-ah-ah! 10 little chimps do the cha-cha-cha." But the other denizens of the forest have different favorite dances. As each new animal, from rhino to giraffe to ostrich joins the party doing a different dance, one monkey dances off to join in. Just when there's only one monkey left, Mama chimp bursts in to take her brood home. After they are safely tucked in and the sitter's called, however, Mama returns to the dance hall for her own cha-cha-cha. Durango's dancing rhyme is infectious. Creative minds might worry that the chimps are being picked off for dinner since lion, cheetah and cobra are three of the first animals, but they're just looking for dance partners. Taylor's cartoon watercolors virtually boogie off the page. A nice addition for storytimes about monkeys or music. (Picture book. 2-6)

Kirkus Reviews