Bibliographical information:

 

 

 

Allen, Judy,  Are you an Ant?   New York:  Backyard Books, 2004.

 

(See also books on other insects in the Backyard Books "Are you an. . ." series)

 

Brief summary:

A close-up look at the lifecycle of an ant offered in engaging, humorous language.

 

 

Comments:

Perfect natural history for kids--the facts are embedded in a conversation between author and reader (Are you an ant?  If so, you were born from an egg along with hundreds of sisters in an underground chamber. . .).  The watercolor illustrations (by Tudor Humphries) offer beautiful and accurate depictions that are sure to allay any  young reader's discomfort with insects (though that was certainly never a problem in our house).  The book ends by stressing some of the differences between ants and humans, i.e. that we don't all have to march together in a single line and that our families can take many different forms.

 

Grade/Age level:

A great book to share with preschoolers, but it's easy enough for beginning readers, too.  The recommendation of ages 4-8 seems spot on.

 

Cautions:

It's a tad PC, but not in an obtrusive way.

 

 --Elizabeth Hutchinson

 

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