Solitary Animals: Introverts of the Wild

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.