Peculiar Primates: Fun Facts About These Curious Creatures

by Debra Kempf Shumaker, Claire Powell (Illustrator)

From flossing and howling, to building nests and thumping chests, this delightful follow up to Freaky, Funky Fish explores the amazing things primates do.

All primates climb and breathe in air. They have big brains and hands and hair. But. . . some live alone, some live in groups. One primate has a nose that droops. Peculiar Primates is an adorable picture book with a scientific--and child-friendly--underpinning. With examples of different primates for each description, as well as extensive backmatter explaining the fascinating science behind their behaviors, this bizarre book captures the wonders of our ecosystem.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Nonfiction, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published October 11, 2022

About the author

Debra started reading at the age of four and hasn't stopped since. She grew up on a small dairy farm in Wisconsin but now lives in the suburbs of Northern Virginia with her husband, three sons, and two cats.

She is the author of picture books FREAKY, FUNKY FISH and PECULIAR PRIMATES with Running Press Kids, TELL SOMEONE with Albert Whitman, and the upcoming WIND IS A DANCE with Running Press Kids.

Reviews

[Sarah Kurpiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, fact-filled book—told in rhyme! Kempf Shumaker’s words are concise and clever. Styled like a travel journal, the book is jam-packed with primates of all kinds. The way Powell uses eye expressions for each primate adds a lot of humor to this informational book. The closer you look, the more funny details you'll notice, making it great for reading again and again. A very engaging book.

[Katey Howes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a delight! It combines sprightly, simple rhyming text about a wide variety of primates with entertaining, high-energy illustrations featuring lots of extra facts and details, and includes backmatter with further nonfiction content for the curious reader. WIth these many ways to access, engage with, and enjoy the book, it could easily be shared with kids in a wide range of age and interest levels. The re-readability level is very high: kids will want to pour over the illustrations and come back again and again for more information (and more smiles and laughter.) Definitely a top-notch addition to home or classroom libraries, and a great pairing for trips to zoos or wildlife preserves.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this fun rhyming picture book, kids are introduced to a variety of primates - which includes many different species of monkeys, lemurs etc... Each time one or two interesting "peculiar" aspects about this particular primate is introduced - for example, proboscis monkey have very long droopy noses, the golden sub-nosed monkey has a blue face, and the slow loris has a toxic bite.
The book ends by introducing kids to the fact that humans are also a type of primate.
Great book for kids who love science and animals. Since it is a quick-to-read rhyming book, it's also appropriate to read as a bedtime story for young toddlers.

[Charlotte Offsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you know that some primates have a toxic bite? How about the name of the primates that have a mustache?!

Learn all about these Peculiar Primates and more in this fabulous new rhyming picture book. It is packed with information and a treat to read aloud. It is the perfect follow-up to Freaky Funky Fish which if you haven't already read, I highly recommend also checking out. This one is perfect for curious littles and is one my own children are enjoying reading, again and again, we seem to notice new fun details each time through!

[Jessica Kulekjian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This quick-paced rhyming story makes a super fun read aloud for kids and grownups who are curious about animals. The facts and details shared in Peculiar Primates are easy to understand while the bright and engaging art offers loads of humor and labels to help readers point out the primate features that are being shared. The ending is surprising and so sweet! But the fun isn’t finished there! Educator-friendly back matter makes this book perfect for class discussions and extending the learning experience. This book is so engaging! I'm sure it will be a repeat read for many kids!

[Gela Kalaitzidis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so funny. The rhyme and rhythm in the text with all the hilarious facts about primates are superb. Not to mention that all the expressive illustrations make you laugh out loud. By reading the book I learned so much about the different monkey and ape species, but I also get to contemplate opposites like, day and night, big and small, shy and outgoing. So much to think about and enjoy. This is a great book to read with a young child, but also for an early reader to do their own research into the peculiar world of primates.

[Chelsea Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHHH! I love love this book! My daughter and I were watching a Planet Earth special on primates -- it was so interesting! So when I found this book we were thrilled!! This book captures and engages you with all the most fascinating traits of primates! The rhyme perfectly dances you through all of the many varied species with only the most fun facts (like how one taps bark to find its food or how others like to jacuzzi in the hot springs in Japan!). The backmatter then fills in more details which I'm certain kids will flock to since the book does such a brilliant job of pulling you in and making you care! The art is fabulous. I highly recommend this book to parents and teachers alike!

[Jennifer Raudenbush · Rating 5 out of 5]

PECULIAR PRIMATES contains tons of fun facts about primates. Debra Kempf Shumaker’s funny rhymes make this picture book a great read-aloud! Claire Powell’s fun, colorful illustrations pop off the page. Even as an adult, I learned a ton of cool things about primates, and I liked that the back matter goes into more depth about each primate featured in the book. Kids won’t be able to put this one down as they pore over the pages chockfull of interesting facts and art.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shumaker and Powell have done it again! (Don't miss their first collaboration: Freaky, Funky Fish!) Jaunty, informative rhyme pairs with bright, often silly journal-style illustrations that will get kids gasping, laughing, and, best of all, asking questions about primates. Extensive backmatter and engaging endpapers tie this book into the best kind of package. Kids will ask for this one again and again!

[Jen Fier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debra Kempf Shumaker and Claire Powell deliver another rollicking rhyming read-aloud! This follow up to Freaky, Funky Fish is just as fresh and (possibly even more?!) fun. Packed with facts, humor and delightful “Peculiar Rating Department” scores, this book delivers top-notch nonfiction material from the first line to the extensive backmatter.

[Jenna Waldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has so much I love! It's pages are filled with wonderful, colorful illustrations and are packed with interesting animal facts written in playful rhyme. I love how Shumaker and Powell educate and entertain at the same time. This is a wonderful book for every animal loving child (and adult!). I especially love the takeaway at the end—don't forget, people are primates too!

[Michal Babay · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUCH a fun and educational book about primates! I love how Shumaker keeps the reader engaged with interesting but short rhymes, and the illustrations have so much detail. We read this and learned together. I had no idea there were so many different primates! So much fun to read, and really informative. Highly recommend!

[Bethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. Rhyming text notes all the different ways that primates can be peculiar. I found one curiosity endearing, that I wished my favorite primate did more: tooth flossing! Engaging illustrations, more details at the end for each peculiarity, further learning, resource list. Appreciate the note to the fact checker from New England Primate Conservancy.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of nonfiction picture books about interesting animals - but to write the text in rhyme too? Impressive! This book knocked my socks off with its engaging, fact-filled text and adorable, travel-journal-styled illustrations. Readers of all ages will love this fascinating read-aloud! PECULIAR PRIMATES is a must-have!

[Gabriella Aldeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so much fun! It's simple to follow and written in rhyme for the younger readers (or reluctant non-fiction readers). It's also hilarious! These are no ordinary facts—they are laugh-out-loud fun.

[Tracey Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An educatIonal, FUN rhyming book about primates. This is perfect for little kids because it’s humorous and easy to follow with the illustrations, but also good for older kids in upper elementary grades because of the extensive back matter and possibilities for more research.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Storytime nonfiction

[Melissa Trempe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun to read and interesting!

[Deke Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute and informative. The illustrations are super bright and playful, like it’s subjects!

[Jeimy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adult me loved this one. I can't help but to wonder what tween, aspiring-primatologist me would have thought of it had I encountered it then.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great info was definitely a layered text with the info in the main portion and then more in depth pages at the back. Then it also included futher learning opportunities. Awesome!

[Leah Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun, adorable, informational picture book!

[Bianca Sandale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superfunny and informative

[Sunday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super smart design and layout that makes this book ENTICING for our students. Yes, each page has a fun rhyme - Some thump their chests to show their might. Another has a toxic bite. - but it's the additional details and how they are conveyed in a scrapbook-way that is so engaging. There are peculiarity department ratings, measuring sticks and numbered figures, illustrations that are a hoot like the wide-eyed primate Aye-Aye that listens intently as it "looks for food by tapping bark."

Don't skip the BACK MATTER - with additional details for the types of primates featured in each rhyming phrase.

And don't skip the END PAGES that position the reader (with some humor ;) as the explorer in pursuit of learning and documenting details about these fascinating creatures.

[Ashley Belote · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peculiar Primates if filled with fascinating facts! I learned so much! For example, I did not know that some primates store food in their cheeks. I also didn't know that some use grass and coconut fibers to floss their teeth! Wow! The illustrations provide some additional information presented in hand lettering. The whole book is designed to look like the information is in a journal, making the atmosphere of this read even more fun. The art is hilarious and incorporates some funny visuals. The colors of the primates are gorgeous, and each one has a distinct personality! The back matter presents additional information about each primate, making this is a must-read for any classroom or library! 5 - stars!

[Becky Scharnhorst · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many things to love about this book: vibrant illustrations, fascinating facts, extensive backmatter, lively rhyming text, a surprise ending, and a Peculiarity Department Rating for each primate. I adore nonfiction books that are accessible to all ages and this one is. Young children will enjoy poring over the detailed illustrations while listening to the rhythmic text, and older kids will want to dig into the captivating backmatter. This book is perfect for both the home and classroom!

[Tootie Nienow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Freaky Funky Fish, I bought a copy for my school library and the students love it. Peculiar Primates is a great follow-up. A soothing story line guides you through the text, but feel free to pause on any page and zoom in on more specific facts. The color pallet is inviting and the primates eyes are fun the way they seem to follow your gaze.