I love how collective nouns have such an apt way of describing a group of people or animals. Think ‘a parliament of owls’ or ‘a tower of giraffes’. You could even have fun making up your own.

Birds of New Zealand = ngā manu o Aotearoa : collective nouns = ngā kupuingoa tōpū

Boardman, Melissa author illustrator

Melissa Boardman has done a wonderful job of putting together an English/Te Reo book of collective nouns relating to NZ birds. Some of these native to NZ did not yet have a collective noun. Melissa’s knowledge and interest led her to giving collective nouns reflective of their character to these. ‘A flicker of rock wrens/He Kōpura hyrupounamu ’, and ‘A circus/He maninirau of kea’ seem quite fitting.

A glossary provides brief facts on each of the birds.

Treasure beyond measure : a collective noun safari

Griffiths, Helen author / Simon Chadwick illustrator

This rhyming picture book takes the reader on a world safari with a conservation theme. Children can have fun counting and identifying the animals on each page.

A kaleidoscope of butterflies : & other such collective nouns

Hursthouse, Kate, author, illustrator

Twenty five creatures are showcased in this vibrantly illustrated this book  The ‘Lounge of Lizards’ look so chilled reclining on sun loungers, wearing sunnies, and sipping on drinks.