Cha-Cha Chimps

Counting and dancing gohand in hand at Mambo Jamba's,

the place where hippos hokey-pokey and meerkats macarena

and ten little chimps do the

Cha -- Cha -- Cha

until Mama Chimps says,

"Time for bed!"

Publishers Weekly

Durango's (Dream Hop) tale stars a cast of childlike chimps who are more interested in dancing the night away than catching their zzz's. "Deep in the forest in the dim moonlight,/ ten little chimps sneak out for the night." They head to Mambo Jamba's, a hoppin' club where the chimps trade in their PJs for "boogie-woogie pants" and strut their stuff. Rhyming couplets chronicle the group's adventure as one by one they take new dance partners (and try new dance steps), and the refrain counts down from 10 to one ("Lion struts around/ like the royal king of cool./ But five minutes later/ he's a jitterbugging fool./ ee-ee-oo-oo-ah-ah-ah!/ 7 little chimps do the/ cha-cha-cha"). Taylor's (Chicken in the Kitchen) watercolors play a dual role: they cast a soft, moonlit glow on the dancers, while lending an extra vibe of excitement to their fancy footwork. Even when the music comes to a halt with the arrival of Mama Chimp, Durango still portrays the parent as someone who can appreciate a good time-after she tucks in her chimps, Mama dons her own dancing shoes. Ages 2-6. (Feb.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Julia Durango resides in Ottawa, Illinois, where she wrote a weekly book review column for children. She is the mother of two sons and is the author of Dream Hop, her first picture books with Simon and Schuster, illustrated by Jared Leeher as well as Pest Fest, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus.Her most recent picture book was Go-Go Gorillas, a sequel to Cha-Cha Chimps, both illustrated by Eleanor Taylor. Her first novel The Walls of Cartagena was published in fall 2008 and was a Junior Library Guild Selection. Her second novel, Sea of the Dead was published in Summer 2009. She is a contributor the Three Silly Chicks blog and lives in Ottawa, Illinois.

Eleanor Taylor is the internationally beloved illustrator of numerous picture books, including Chicken in the Kitchen by Tony Johnston. Ellie and her husband live in London, England, with a son who isn't quite old enough to run around chattering like a monkey -- but maybe this book will change that.