Themes and Character Traits
No one wants to play with Jackie because she always tells everyone else what to do. She insists that everyone do things her way and will not listen to anyone else's ideas.
What is bossy?
Things were different when our plane crashed in the jungle. We didn't know how long it would take to get rescued, so to keep from starving, we had to eat some crunchy critters.
Survival
Chimpanzees and humans are alike in many ways. A baby chimp laughs when its mother tickles it. After chimpanzees fight, they kiss and make up. When one chimpanzee comforts another, it gives it a hug or pat on the back. There are, of course, many ways that chimpanzees and humans are different. Chimpanzees are smaller and stronger than humans.
Compare and contrast
An animal that naturally preys on others.
Predator
In what state was he born?
Kentucky
Even though Marcus knows the answer to his teacher's question, he doesn't raise his hand.
What is shy?
Characters who work together to achieve something.
Cooperation
Chimps live in groups and like each other a lot, but sometimes they fight. Because they don’t want to stay angry at each other after a fight, they make up by holding a hand out to the other and kissing. They show they are sorry with pats and hugs. Then the anger goes away.
Cause and effect
The broad fin on the back of some types of fish or some prehistoric reptiles.
Sail
What number president was he?
16th
The character says, "I wonder what the first day of school will be like? What if it's too hard? What if I can't make friends?"
What is worried?
Jabar didn't say too much, but his actions always showed his true nature. He was there when someone needed an encouraging word or a listening ear.
Compassion
A chimpanzee’s body is made for climbing and swinging in the trees. First, it uses its long arms to reach a branch. Next, with its flexible hands and feet, it grabs and hooks on to the branch. Finally, it swings from that branch to another branch of tree.
Sequence
A strip of hair left to grow above the upper lip.
Mustache
How many sons did he have?
4
The character doesn't want to share her materials for the art project with her classmates, even though everyone shared with her.
What is selfish?
Ivan was starving on his way to the lunchroom. He didn't have time to eat breakfast but he felt like he could eat a horse. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a $5 bill fall from Will's pocket onto the floor. Ivan scooped it up and raced to catch up with Will.
Honesty
Wild chimpanzees are rapidly disappearing. Some people are trying to solve this problem. Otherwise, chimpanzees may one day exist only in zoos. People are trying to save the rain forests and woodlands where the chimps live from being cut down. It will take many people working together to solve this problem.
Problem and solution
Relating to water.
Aquatic
What war was happening when he was president?
The Civil War
Dwayne is always asking questions. He wants to know about how things work and why things are the way they are. He spends lots of time observing nature and doing experiments.
What is curious?
Characters that never give up and keep on trying.
Perseverance
It is fun to read about chimpanzees. All wild chimpanzees live in Africa. They live mostly in thick rain forests and in woodlands. There are two types, or species, of chimpanzees—the common chimpanzee and the bonobo, also known as the pygmy chimpanzee.
Description
Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
Perseverance
How old was he when he died?
56