Crossing of Zebras, A

A poetic slant on collective nouns. Everyone has heard the phrase a school of fish. But what about a rumba of rattlesnakes, an army of ants, or a crash of rhinos? Derived from both oral and written traditions, collective nouns go back centuries. These terms not only charm us with their sound, but they also provide a bit of insight into animal behavior. Readers can find these and other terms—naming groups from alley cats to zebras—in fourteen thought-provoking poems by Marjorie Maddox. She and artist Philip Huber create a wonderful combination of rich wordplay and captivating scratchboard art that piques the imagination.