Author: Phillip and Hannah Hoose
Illustrator: Debbie Tilley
Publisher: Tricycle Press, 1998
Age: 4-8
Themes: ants, children’s songs, empathy
Opening: Kid: hey, little ant down in the crack, Can you hear me? Can you talk back? See my shoe, can you see that? Well, now it’s gonna squish you flat.
Summary: (from my library catalog) A song in which an ant pleads with the kid who is tempted to squish it.
I like this book because: because the text is a song it makes for a very nice read-aloud, and I was drawn to the illustration style as much now as when I had read this to my son. But as an illustrator I also appreciate the unique perspectives on every page, the adorable character design of the ant and the children. The spreads I didn’t show are even more fun!
Resources/activities: sing the song together – words and music are in the backmatter; learn the ukelele just for this song (haha!); great discussion starter around respect for the natural world; learn more about ants in the video at the bottom of this post.
For more Perfect Picture Book Friday picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.
julie rowan-zoch 