Review by Parneet Sarai
Tundra Books, 2024
40 pages, Hardcover, $24.99 CAD, 9781774881163
Picture book, Ages 4-8
Science/Nature, Comedy/Humour
Did you just hear something? It couldn’t be. It’s . . . An ant.
“Yes! I am called an Acorn Ant because I live inside an acorn. It’s a good strong house for a little ant.”
I guess there is one ant in this book. But only one.
“Two!” “Three!”
“I am a Dinosaur Ant, one of the largest ants in the world! I’m as big as this strawberry! That’s huge for an ant!”
“I am a Pharaoh Ant, one of the smallest ants in the world. I’m only as long as six grains of salt. But I dream big.”
FINE. There are three ants in this book.
An expansive field of soft grass, an acorn, tiny red mushrooms, and a tree stump bestow the beginning of this book. As the page turns, we are introduced to the main character, a child who finds this spot perfect for a picnic. No ants are to be seen as the picnic, as they do not like to share their love of the many picnic delicacies. However, through bright and detailed imagery, we are soon introduced to the very friends the main character is hoping to avoid.
At the beginning we are introduced to one ant: an Acorn Ant. Author Rosemary Mosco seamlessly integrates information on how the ant is defined, explaining the motivation for the ant’s name. One by one, more ants pop up on the page, all uniquely drawn to capture the differences between the different types. We are then greeted by the Dinosaur Ant and the Pharaoh Ant, both side by side, with the difference between the two highlighting their size. The use of background imagery emphasizes the author’s descriptions further; each ant has their own curated and detailed image outlining their physical, anatomical and functional differences. The anatomy of the ants is simplified down to a degree which young readers can grasp and understand. The Winnow Ant, Honeypot Ant, and Leafcutter Ant are introduced together. Then we meet the group of the remaining four: the Slender Twig Ant, Turtle Ant, Green Tree Ant, and the Acrobat Ant.
In total, readers are introduced to ten different kinds of ants, with their main features and differentiators highlighted. The overall plot of the book follows a common occurrence familiar to many, children included: ants showing up to a picnic. Typically seen as a nuisance, the ants showing up becomes transformed into a gentler approach and fascination, shifting the tone of the situation from unpleasant to new and exciting. Furthermore, when the ants are at risk of being consumed by an anteater, the main character is quick and clever to hide them, showcasing the newfound appreciation and care for the ants. This narrative expands on curiosity and empathy for smaller creatures and may perhaps change your own views regarding ants, too.
On the second to last page there is an extensive spread of factual information regarding the ants, including their species name, where they can be found, and simple snips of descriptions and scientifically correct terms, all laid out in digestible ways. The images found on this page also better reflect the actual ant anatomy. I really enjoyed the cross-referencing of this factual information to the illustrated ants in the book.
If you, or someone you know, enjoy learning something new and scientific in an easy to comprehend and fun manner, you will enjoy this book! For young readers this is a great way to introduce factual learning in an engaging way.
Parneet Sarai has completed her BSc in Biology and is currently continuing her journey at UBC. She is a bookworm and enjoys all genres but has a soft spot for the nostalgic dystopian novels that sparked her interest in reading. She loves the library and dabbles in poetry and fictional writing.
YOUNG ADULTING 