Cha-Cha-ing Chimps

I read this picture book during the last drop-by storytime of the school year and based on the reactions of both parents and my coworkers, I had to share it here. I love when a book can be funny on one level for kids and equally enjoyed by the grown-up reading the book!

Cha-Cha Chimps by Julia Durango (picture book)

This take on the 10 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed gives new meaning to “monkey business”. (Haha. Sorry, cheesy, but I couldn’t resist!) The story starts with 10 very active chimps going to Mamba Jamba’s for a little dancing with some other wild animals, and as with the original monkey story, one jiving chimp keeps dropping off as each page passes. Finally when all are out, Mama Chimp arrives—uh oh!--  and marches her chimp-children back to bed… setting up the best part of the story (for the grown-ups reading/hearing): One chimp tiptoes back out. Is it one of those mischievous chimps? Nope! This time it’s Mama Chimp, who after calling a babysitter, goes out to do a little cha-cha-ing of her own! I almost didn’t want to give away the ending but it’s just that part of the story that may make you choose it above the other “10 Little Monkeys” versions. When I read that during storytime, the moms’ reactions were priceless. Laughter. Vindication. Excitement.

For the kids, the illustrations are cute… chimps in clothes, which the kids in storytime thought was hysterical. There’s also the counting element to it, but working on the tricky backwards-from-ten thing. And there’s a repeating, easy-to-learn refrain on each page: “ee-ee, oo-oo, ah-ah-ah! Fill-in-the-blank-number chimps do the cha-cha-cha.” The book’s rhymes aren’t forced, which is always an added bonus. An all-around fun story, great anytime, but especially at bedtime or before a MNO! Or even make a game of it and come up with motions for your child to dance to the refrain to get a little energy out on a summer afternoon. And if they like Cha-Cha Chimps, there’s also Go-Go, Gorillas!