Andy the ant is planning a small party for his birthday. But as word spreads around the anthill, the guest list grows and grows! Exuberant fun on every colorful page.
It’s another busy day at the anthill. Farmer ants collect food, worker ants build tunnels, and soldier ants guard the queen. But for Andy, it’s a very special day: his birthday! He invites his neighbors for a fun party with dancing and dips. But unbeknownst to Andy, his neighbors invite a few of their friends, and then those friends invite a few of their friends . . . Soon the event is shaping up to be a full-blown mega ant party! Andy is shocked by the turnout, but soon gets into the swing of things. Until, that is, an unwelcome guest crashes the party—and Andy’s house!—and the ants must work together to save the day (and the dips). Jovial text and lively, detailed illustrations make this story a comedic delight.---from the publisher
40 pages 978-1536239539 Ages 4-7
Keywords: ants, birthday party, fun, friends, humor, working together, friendship, helping others, 4 year old, 5 year old, 6 year old, 7 year old, community
*****
It's Andy the Ant's birthday today and he decides to have a party... but just one for his friends and neighbours because his house is too small for a large gathering. "just dancing and dips," he says. But the neighbours felt awkward because they didn't have any food to share so they invited the farmer ants who told the worker ants who told the...
But even though it turns into so much more than Andy anticipated, it still goes well until an unexpected, uninvited and unwelcome gate-crasher arrives..,.
From the get-go, the endpapers invite young readers into this story as they are taken into the underground world of the anthill and its inhabitants and the vibrant illustrations -both full-page and vignette - offer much to discover and discuss as they relate to the preparations that go into holding a party and the ramifications of thinking "just a few more" won't make a difference. But its power lies in the message of friendship, teamwork, and co-operation as the guests work together to deal with the gate-crasher. While the illustrations are very bright and busy with all their detail, Andy is portrayed as the only turquoise ant in the colony so sharp eyes will have fun looking for him amongst all the activity.
Others might like to consider whether this is a story based in Australia, seeking familiar images, and if they decide it's not, investigate where it could be set. Hint: where might the gate-crasher come from? And that could lead to thinking about whether Australia has a similar creature that could spoil an ant's birthday party...
Light-hearted and fun.
Recommended by: Barbara Braxton, Teacher Librarian, New South Wales AUSTRALIA
See more of her recommendations:
500 Hats http://500hats.edublogs.org/
The Bottom Shelf http://thebottomshelf.edublogs.org/
