Solitary Animals: Introverts of the Wild

by Joshua David Stein, Dominique Ramsey (Illustrator)

Overview

Celebrate the beauty and strength of solitude with this poetic observation of the animal kingdom and those who move through it on their very own.

That silvery cloud swimming in the sea is actually a school of fish.
That splash and crash is a pod of whales, sounding.
Behold, a fever of stingrays gliding by.
But what do you call a group of octopuses?
A tangle of octopuses? A chandelier of octopuses? A multipus of octopuses?
No, octopuses prefer to be alone.
The octopus is a solitary animal.


This lyrical, nonfiction text honors animals who live in solitude, in contrast to others who live in groups. Against a backdrop of the specific names of various animal tribes (a parade of elephants, a tower of giraffes, a dazzle of zebras), Stein shines a spotlight on those animals who go through life on their own. With nature at his back, Stein invites readers to draw strength and comfort from the behaviors of fellow animals. Perfect for children who are introverted or tend to be alone, and their parents...as well as all children, who will be encouraged to respect the "natural" choices of their peers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593384435
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	03/08/2022
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	157,902
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	AD470L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Joshua David Stein is a writer, editor, and podcast host in New York City. He is the editor-at-large at Fatherly and host of The Fatherly Podcast. He is the author of multiple adult books, including Food & Beer (Phaidon), Epicurean Journeys (Rizzoli), the forthcoming To Me He Was Just Dad (Artisan), as well as the co-author of Notes from a Young Black Chef (Knopf). He has also written several children's books, including Can I Eat That?; Brick, Who Found Herself in Architecture; The Ball Book (all Phaidon); and most recently The Invisible Alphabet (Rise x Penguin Workshop). He recently founded The Band Books, a band that performs children's books to music. A longtime media fixture, Stein has been the editor-in-chief of BlackBook magazine, the editor at Black Ink, a senior editor at Departures, the senior editor of Eater, and the editor-at-large at Out magazine and Tasting Table. He is currently a contributing editor at Food & Wine. Stein lives in Brooklyn with his two young sons.

Dominique Ramsey is a freelance illustrator from Atlanta, Georgia, who has a passion for telling stories about animals, nature, and the whimsical-mysteries things in life. Her inspiration comes from animation, video games, music, and children's books that have an animal focus, including the Warrior Cats book series and the Pokémon game franchise. Her inspiration also comes from animals themselves, the spiritual connection they have, their relationship with people, and what they mean to different cultures. Dominique strives for uniqueness, using bright colors, bold lines, shapes, and patterns that can excite and capture the viewer's eye. Her work focuses heavily on symbolism, where she explores themes such as mystery, culture, identity, and the subconscious mind. Her work has been acknowledged by 3x3 magazine, Society of Illustrators, and Creative Quarterly. She received her BFA in illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2020.

Editorial Reviews

★ 10/04/2021

Many titles acquaint readers with terms of venery, but this book additionally celebrates the fact that not all species appreciate a crowd. While a water hole attracts “a parade of elephants” and “dazzle of zebras,” writes Stein (The Invisible Alphabet), “the panther arrives by herself. The panther is a solitary animal.” The octopus, the sloth, and the eagle share this solidarity of solitariness, and their far-from-lonely lives—the sloth exudes contentment, the octopus is playfully balletic, the bald eagle keenly observes the world beneath her—should be assuring, even profound, to children who similarly prefer their own company or treasure moments of alone time. And human introverts and extroverts alike will connect with debut artist Ramsey’s radiant digital animal portraits: iridescent hummingbirds dance around a bright red hibiscus, while the sleek, prowling panther shimmers in tones of purple, black, and pink, its glowing eyes piercing the darkness. An eye-catching affirmation of singular over plural. Back matter provides additional background, covering survival and instinct. Ages 3–5. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

BEST BOOK OF 2022 -- CHILDREN'S BOOK COMMITTEE OF BANK STREET COLLEGE

"An eye-catching affirmation of singular over plural." --Publishers Weekly (STARRED REVIEW)

"Stein introduces four solitary species and contrasts their contented solo lifestyles with social animals in similar habitats." --Horn Book Review (STARRED REVIEW)

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library selected title (2023)

Amazon Best Book (2022)

Texas Topaz Reading List Pick (2023)

Camellia Award Nominee (2022)

From the Publisher

01/01/2022

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. VERDICT With lovely illustrations and a variety of animal collective nouns, this book is meant for browsing.—Susan Lissim

School Library Journal

Joshua David Stein performs his clever story in an animated voice that is a fine accompaniment to the tinkling of page-turn chimes and realistic sound effects. In addition to entertaining young listeners with animal sounds, Stein teaches children (and adults) all about solitary animals (human and nonhuman) and collective nouns (for example, “a dazzle of zebras”). His playful language weaves through elephants trumpeting, zebras snorting, and panthers purring, among others. With gentleness and congeniality, Stein asks questions about animals who are loners and their human counterparts (aka introverts), asking, for example, whether they’re lonely. He answers with equal parts enthusiasm and encouragement. This delightful parade of animal facts, musical words, and sweet lessons on solitary creatures is sure to please any crowd. M.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2022 - AudioFile

Joshua David Stein performs his clever story in an animated voice that is a fine accompaniment to the tinkling of page-turn chimes and realistic sound effects. In addition to entertaining young listeners with animal sounds, Stein teaches children (and adults) all about solitary animals (human and nonhuman) and collective nouns (for example, “a dazzle of zebras”). His playful language weaves through elephants trumpeting, zebras snorting, and panthers purring, among others. With gentleness and congeniality, Stein asks questions about animals who are loners and their human counterparts (aka introverts), asking, for example, whether they’re lonely. He answers with equal parts enthusiasm and encouragement. This delightful parade of animal facts, musical words, and sweet lessons on solitary creatures is sure to please any crowd. M.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2022 - AudioFile