Humans belong to the Great Ape family, along with gorillas, orangutans and chimpanzees. This colourful fact-packed information book focusses on chimpanzees, who are our closest living animal relatives. Like us they have long childhoods, the ability to use ‘language’ and tools, and the capacity to feel deep emotions. Both children (aged seven upwards) and adults will be intrigued and stimulated by the excellent presentation of this book, which begins with an overview of the chimps and the ways they are like humans, and moves to the specifics of the unique species and communities of chimpanzees living in various regions of Africa. Through clear, coloured photographs, maps, charts and simple text, we discover, for instance, about the Fongoli chimps in Senegal, who make spears to hunt; and the Bossou chimpanzees who have learnt to carefully cross busy roads. Of course there are the sober and important facts about threats to these precious animals, and the difficulties of studying the dwindling populations. Written by Carla Litchfield, the current president of the Australasian Primate Society, The Chimpanzee Book will make a lively and valuable addition to any library.

Rochelle Siemienowicz is a Melbourne writer and reviewer

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