A Wisdom of Wombats More Collective Animal Nouns and the Meanings Behind Them - by Kathy Broderick (Hardcover)

About the Book

" From a journey of giraffes to a gaggle of geese, come explore animals and the wonderful words we use to describe them. Featuring definitions, this picture book of collective nouns will grow your vocabulary and expand your understanding. Companion title to A Loveliness of Ladybugs, winner of The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

From a journey of giraffes to a gaggle of geese, come explore animals and the wonderful words we use to describe them. Featuring definitions, this picture book of collective nouns will grow your vocabulary and expand your understanding. Companion title to A Loveliness of Ladybugs: Collective Animal Nouns and the Meanings Behind Them.

Review Quotes

Gr 2-4-An aurora of polar bears. A bouquet of hummingbirds. A gaze of raccoons. These are a few of the collective nouns chosen to fill the pages this book, and while it's not an original idea, the illustrations deliver page after page to pore over. The text is as spare as can be. Each spread features the collective noun of choice, such as "an obstinacy of buffalo," and the definition of the word used to describe the group. Each word is accompanied by a phonetic pronunciation as well. Even readers who will never have cause to say "a surfeit of skunks" will find colorful phrases and words to add to their vocabularies. Children may open the book to learn silly phrases like "a crash of rhinoceroses," but they will continue flipping the pages to admire the lovely illustrations. DePasquale uses contrasting and complementary colors to make the art pop. His skill with lighting is impressive.
VERDICT Beautiful artwork plus a dual appeal to animal lovers and word nerds make this a worthy addition to any collection.
Reviewed by Chance Lee Joyner, Haverhill P.L., MA, May 28, 2021

--SLJ "https: //www.slj.com/?reviewDetail=a-wisdom-of-wombats" (5/28/2021 12:00:00 AM)

In this companion to A Loveliness of Ladybugs (2020), Broderick expands her look at collective nouns to a new group of animals.
Beginning with a "wisdom of wombats" and closing with a "rumba of rattlesnakes," each of the 16 collective animal nouns included receives double-page treatment with a definition, pronunciation, and visual illustration linking the animals to their group name. The presentation for a "bouquet of hummingbirds" reveals hummingbirds fluttering around a vase like "an arrangement of flowers," reflecting the definition of bouquet as exactly that. Similarly, the wide-eyed raccoons used in a "gaze of raccoons" peer from behind tree trunks, perfect examples of gaze as "a long, fixed look." Likewise, the raucous illustration of wildly honking geese for a "gaggle of geese" visually confirms gaggle as a "noisy group." A "constellation of sea stars" fits the five-armed echinoderms scattered across the ocean floor in the shape of the Big Dipper, a "race of roadrunners" suits speeding roadrunners, and a "squadron of pelicans" works for aviating pelicans. Aided considerably by the fluid, brightly colored, clever illustrations, the rationale behind most of the collective nouns seems obvious; however, the connection between name and animal group in other examples-for instance, "journey of giraffes," the titular "wisdom of wombats," or "troop of kangaroos"-is less than apparent, and readers will wish there were background information explaining their originations.
Lively, visually inviting introduction to peculiar appellations assigned to animal groups. (Picture book. 3-7)

--Kirkus Reviews "https: //www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kathy-broderick/wisdom-wombats/" (1/1/2021 12:00:00 AM)

Pull Quote: "Beautiful artwork plus a dual appeal to animal lovers and word nerds make this a worthy addition to any collection." -School Library Journal

Gr 2-4-An aurora of polar bears. A bouquet of hummingbirds. A gaze of raccoons. These are a few of the collective nouns chosen to fill the pages this book, and while it's not an original idea, the illustrations deliver page after page to pore over. The text is as spare as can be. Each spread features the collective noun of choice, such as "an obstinacy of buffalo," and the definition of the word used to describe the group. Each word is accompanied by a phonetic pronunciation as well. Even readers who will never have cause to say "a surfeit of skunks" will find colorful phrases and words to add to their vocabularies. Children may open the book to learn silly phrases like "a crash of rhinoceroses," but they will continue flipping the pages to admire the lovely illustrations. DePasquale uses contrasting and complementary colors to make the art pop. His skill with lighting is impressive. VERDICT Beautiful artwork plus a dual appeal to animal lovers and word nerds make this a worthy addition to any collection. Reviewed by Chance Lee Joyner, Haverhill P.L., MA, May 28, 2021

--School Library Journal "https: //www.slj.com/?reviewDetail=a-wisdom-of-wombats" (5/28/2021 12:00:00 AM)

Pull Quote: "Lively, visually inviting introduction to peculiar appellations assigned to animal groups." -Kirkus Reviews

In this companion to A Loveliness of Ladybugs (2020), Broderick expands her look at collective nouns to a new group of animals. Beginning with a "wisdom of wombats" and closing with a "rumba of rattlesnakes," each of the 16 collective animal nouns included receives double-page treatment with a definition, pronunciation, and visual illustration linking the animals to their group name. The presentation for a "bouquet of hummingbirds" reveals hummingbirds fluttering around a vase like "an arrangement of flowers," reflecting the definition of bouquet as exactly that. Similarly, the wide-eyed raccoons used in a "gaze of raccoons" peer from behind tree trunks, perfect examples of gaze as "a long, fixed look." Likewise, the raucous illustration of wildly honking geese for a "gaggle of geese" visually confirms gaggle as a "noisy group." A "constellation of sea stars" fits the five-armed echinoderms scattered across the ocean floor in the shape of the Big Dipper, a "race of roadrunners" suits speeding roadrunners, and a "squadron of pelicans" works for aviating pelicans. Aided considerably by the fluid, brightly colored, clever illustrations, the rationale behind most of the collective nouns seems obvious; however, the connection between name and animal group in other examples-for instance, "journey of giraffes," the titular "wisdom of wombats," or "troop of kangaroos"-is less than apparent, and readers will wish there were background information explaining their originations. Lively, visually inviting introduction to peculiar appellations assigned to animal groups. (Picture book. 3-7)

--Kirkus Reviews "https: //www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kathy-broderick/wisdom-wombats/" (3/10/2021 12:00:00 AM)

About the Author

Kathy Broderick is the author of A Loveliness of Ladybugs, Yakety Yak, A Wisdom of Wombats, and Wild Goose Chase. She believes that books and words empower children, and she advocates for libraries and literacy programs in public schools.