New book introduces young readers to lesser-known words

'A Bale of Turtles' educates on words describing animal groups: nouns of assembly

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Readers may have heard of a gaggle of geese, but what about a skulk of foxes or a gam of whales? In a playful and informative way, author and former English teacher Lee Clancey introduces readers to nouns of assembly: the words that describe an animal group. Her new book, "A Bale of Turtles" (published by Archway Publishing), illustrated by Mary Rothermel, entertains while educating young readers on some lesser used words.

Imaginative rhymes and fun illustrations give young children new and thought-provoking words with which to describe animal groups. With society and social media geared toward fewer words and characters - such as with the advent of Twitter's 140-character limit ­- Clancey felt compelled to share little-known information she had collected over a number of years.

"A Bale of Turtles" takes readers beneath the sea, across the land and up in the air as Clancey teaches about all types of animals, from exotic to commonplace, from the farm to the city, wild to domestic and large to small.

An excerpt from "A Bale of Turtles":

"The names of animal groups

Are funny and alive.

Just like a swarm of busy bees

In a bustling, buzzing hive!"

"A Bale of Turtles"

By Lee Clancey and Mary Rothermel

Hardcover | 8.5 x 11 in | 38 pages | ISBN 9781480820470

Softcover | 8.5 x 11 in | 38 pages | ISBN 9781480820463

E-Book | 38 pages | ISBN 9781480820456

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Lee Clancey is a former teacher, business owner and politician who is now retired. She and her husband, Jay, have three grown sons, and she wrote "A Bale of Turtles" for her grandchildren.

About the Illustrator

Mary Rothermel is a working artist living in Seattle and specializing in oil paintings and landscapes. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Washington, has exhibited her work nationally and has completed numerous commissions. She often collaborates with her husband and fellow artist, Tom Northington.