"When an ant finds food, she releases
a scent trail with her bottom as she
returns to the colony. The ant rubs
her bottom against the ground so the
scent sticks. That way, other ants can
follow the trail to find the food.
Ants have fuzzier vision
than we humans do. Some
have no eyes at all but
manage with just their
sense of smell."
When Katja Bargum first thought about writing this book, she asked kids what they wanted to know about ants. Most inquisitive kids are interested in the answers their 'est' questions: laziest, smartest, scariest, fastest, strongest. The fact that Ms. Bargum worked as an ant researcher for a number of years, and has written about the social life of ants certainly held her in good stead for answering the questions the children asked, and so much more.
An introductory world map shows that ants can live anywhere in the world.
"They can live in the desert at 120 degrees (50 degrees Celsius),
inside an acorn, under the ground, in the treetops or in your
home."
In 19 double-page sections, readers learn a great deal about the nearly 20 million billion ants that share our planet, and have been here for millions of years. It's a pretty impressive notion.
Each of the sections is introduced with a title, and the facts provided relate to it. The two pages are filled with relevant connections to the subject itself; a section on the best sense of smell includes finding food, guiding other ants to it, how they smell, and scent glands. The prize for the best sense of smell goes to the DESERT ANT.
This is a most enjoyable read for its intended audience, always including just enough material in bite-sized pieces to keep them moving from one section to the next. It is one of those books that readers will want to share with whoever happens to be in close proximity. There is a lot here to grab attention and pass along. Dinner table discussions will be enhanced by the excitement of new learning, and the wonder of the things these tiny creatures accomplish.
Readers are sure to pore over the cartoon-like images created by Jenny Lucander. Speech bubbles add humor, and the natural settings give context to the information. Are there any other questions that need answers? I wonder what they might be.
In a section concerning ants in North America, Ms. Bargum tells her audience:
"The little cornfield ant is a softy. She
doesn't sting or bite, but she does love
jam sandwiches. That's why she sometimes
comes into homes in the spring, when there
isn't as much to eat outdoors. Cornfield
ants are one of the most abundant ants on
the continent."
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