Pajama Press

Rhino rumpus! Rhino riot! Will these three siblings ever get along?

Two little rhinos getting washed.
One little rhino feeling squashed.
Little push. Little nudge.
Three little rhinos WILL NOT BUDGE!

Three little rhinos are having trouble getting along as Mama tries to coax them through the evening routine. Will they fidget, fuss, and fight right up until bedtime? Or will their Mama’s love help them find some common ground? Victoria Allenby and Tara Anderson, the award-winning author-illustrator team behind Nat the Cat Can Sleep Like That, return with a lively story that will warm the heart of any frazzled parent. Children will find mischievous delight in the young rhinos’ misbehaviour, told in bouncing rhyme and energetic illustrations. And ultimately they, like the rhino siblings, may be inspired to acknowledge and reward their parents’ patient love.

Awards & Honours:
2017 Best Books for Kids & Teens Starred Selection
2016 Resource Links “The Year’s Best” selection

Reviews:
“This romp of a picture book for very young audiences begs to be read aloud….Adult readers should be prepared to harrumph, gripe, snipe, grumble, and roar. The pencil-and-crayon illustrations do an effective job of conveying the mayhem, and the facial expressions add to the general hilarity. While this would be a great choice for library storytime, it’s not really recommended for bedtime [because] most young readers will be way too riled up.”—Booklist

“A playful celebration of both the commotion of daily life and the love among members of a family.”—Publishers Weekly

“This selection will certainly strike a familiar chord with squabbling siblings and their frazzled parents…”—School Library Journal

“Thanks to its bubbly rhythm, Rhino Rumpus is a great candidate for story time with toddlers. The energetic language and rhymes are made to be read aloud and the illustrations are equally as exciting and expressive. Preschoolers with siblings (or parents with rambunctious little rhinos of their own) will relate to this story and have a lot of fun reading together.”—Resource Links

“Tara Anderson’s folksy pencil crayon and acrylic illustrations show the squabbling siblings in all of their mischievous glory. They butt heads, overturn chairs, and snap towels at each other. Mama Rhino, bedecked in a pearl necklace and hoop earrings, keeps her composure throughout the turmoil. Victoria Allenby’s zippy verse is full of repetition, and fun sound words like ‘Fidget fuss frump’, ‘Huff harrumph’ and ‘Grump grumble Bump-a-rump’. Rhino Rumpus is a rollicking read-aloud and a great choice for toddler storytimes.”—CM Magazine

“I liked this book; it was so funny! It made me think of when it’s time for me to go to bed and I drive my mama crazy by running around….But then she’ll read me a book and snuggle with me so that I can relax and fall asleep.”—Brian, Age 5, Kids’ BookBuzz

“The text is perfect for toddlers who will delight in its simplicity and sounds….Tara Anderson… animates the text with her coloured pencil illustrations that convey exuberance, joy, mischief and affection with each stroke.”—CanLit for LittleCanadians

“The fun story is replete with lovely, large-size drawings of young rhinos at play: the very young picture book readers will relish these lively images and the very easy read.”—Midwest Book Review

“This is definitely a book all moms can understand. Being a mom is tough work, being a mom is tiring, but we all think our little ones are the best ever!”—All Booked Up Now