How to Chat Chicken, Gossip Gorilla, Babble Bee, Gab Gecko and Talk in 66 Other Animal Languages

It’s time to walk on the wild side and talk with the animals. This book will teach you not just how to chat chicken but also gossip with gorillas, mumble with meerkats and warble with whales. You’ll be ready for any adventure into the animal kingdom.

It’s a noisy world out there. Almost eight billion people are saying hello, asking for directions, buying food, singing lullabies, paying compliments, and all in their own languages – of which there are six or seven thousand! And that’s just humans… animals have millions of languages!

Insects, birds, reptiles, mammals and amphibians are all talking to each other too, with grunts, squeaks and tweets, as part of the natural orchestra that is Life on Earth. Some of those noises can sound scary, others sweet… wouldn’t it be nice to be able to understand what they were all trying to say?

Author Dr Nick Crumpton acts as our translator and guide through the animal kingdom in this fun, and funny, book. He teaches us what our pet dog’s bark means and how an orangutan says ‘Hello!’ Whuuu-whuuu-whuuu (just in case you ever need it!). Each sound has been researched using recordings and information from scientists in the field. This book will teach you not just how to chat chicken but also gossip with gorillas, mumble with meerkats and warble with whales. You’ll be ready for any adventure into the animal kingdom.

"Expertly calculated to appeal to 7+ wildlife enthusiasts – especially those who fancy themselves as junior Doctor Dolittles..."

"From the “huu hu huu” of a curious chimpanzee to the “wow-wow” of a sad giant panda, children won’t be able to resist reading aloud the noises which appear in speech bubbles on every page... A joyful reference book which will delight, entertain and inform in equal measure."

"Each sound has been researched using recordings and information from scientists in the field. This book will teach you not just how to chat chicken but also gossip with gorillas, mumble with meerkats and warble with whales. You’ll be ready for any adventure into the animal kingdom."

"Riotously funny and fact-filled" 

"A fun, funny, informative book with hilarious illustrations."

"An amazing 'handbook' for budding Dr Doolittles... and aspiring zoologists."

"Full of fun cartoony illustrations with funky speech bubbles and packed with fascinating facts about how animals and insects communicate."

Shortlisted in the Non-Fiction 7–11 category for the The English Association’s English 4-11 Picture Book Awards 2024

"There is a lot of humour in this book and plenty of real-life evidence for the teaching."

“Adriene Barman’s illustrations are cartoonish and clearly appeal to the younger reader, making this a science book that is not too heavy on the terminology, but would be a great addition to a school library to support keen budding scientists.”

Nick Crumpton is a children’s writer and zoologist. He wrote his first book for children whilst completing his PhD in zoology at the University of Cambridge, and his second when working at the BBC Natural History Unit and the Natural History Museum, London. Although a research scientist by training, he is most passionate about the communication of science and sharing the secrets of the natural world through public engagement. He lives in a tumbling down house in North London with his partner and young daughter.

Adrienne Barman illustrates from her home in Switzerland. She has published about thirty books and comics and her book Creaturepedia has been translated into 18 languages, and also won the Swiss Youth and Media Prize 2015. Bright colours, the animal world and quirky nature are at the heart of Adrienne’s drawings.

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