Cha-Cha Chimps (review)

In this playful rhymed story, ten little chimps sneak off to Mambo Jamba's nightclub for a little jungle boogie. They're not the only ones ready to shake it; a colorfully adorned cast of jungle characters parades through the nightclub door, ready to showcase their species-specific moves (Meerkat macarenas, Lion jitterbugs, Cheetah starts a conga line), and one by one the chimps dance off with the new arrivals until there is just one chimp left. That's when—uh-oh!—Mama Chimp walks in, regroups her chimps, and escorts them home. The story quietly settles into the expected putting-the-kids-down-for-the night theme, then takes a joyful bound back to the unpredictable when Mama Chimp calls a babysitter and heads to Mambo Jamba's herself to meet friends for a night of dance-floor frolic. There's lots of occasion for audience interaction, especially in the repeated refrain ("ee-ee-oo-oo-ah-ah-ah! [number] little chimps do the cha-cha-cha"), which combines an opportunity to mimic chimp sounds with the counting down of the ten siblings. Taylor's watercolor and pencil illustrations offer lively interpretations of the dance moves described in the text, making extensive use of energy lines to accentuate the movements; generous use of simple patterns (plaids, polka dots, stripes) adds further visual interest as well as a retro-eighties feel to the jungle couture. While it is somewhat perplexing that the music for the jungle club is provided by a group of domestic pigs, young listeners are likely to forgive this incongruity. For a real storytime treat, play samples of the musical genres mentioned throughout the text and give the kids plenty of time to try out their own dancing shoes.