Hey, Little Ant »

Phillip Hoose is the author of five books, including the Christopher Award—winning It’s Our World, Too! For more than twenty years he has been a staff member of the Nature Conservancy, working to protect habitats of endangered species, including ants. He is a founding member of the Children’s Music Network and a guitar player in The Hoose Family band. For more information about Phillip Hoose visit www.heylittleant.com.

Hannah Hoose is an actress, dancer, keyboardist, and student in Portland, Maine. She has appeared in many productions for the Children’s Theater of Maine. Hannah was nine when she and her father wrote “Hey, Little Ant.” In performance, she plays the child who raises her foot up over the insect, played by her father. This is her first book.

Debbie Tilley’s other books include Dinosaur Dinner, Riddleicious, Riddleightful, and Oops! She lives in southern California with her two cats, Vinnie and Howard, and Millie the dog.

What would you do if the ant you were about to step on looked up and started talking? Would you stop and listen? What if your friends saw you hesitate? That’s what happens in this funny, thought-provoking book. Originally a song by a father-daughter team, this conversation between two creatures, large and small, is bound to inspire important discussions. It might even answer that classic childhood question: To squish or not to squish?

Children's Literature

Originally a song written by a nine-year-old girl and her father, this book is about a boy who looks down at an ant he's about to step on and talks to him tauntingly. The ant looks up and begs to be allowed to live. A dialogue follows in which the boy says that the ant is so tiny he must have no feelings, and that he's a crook for stealing food at picnics. The ant counters that he is much like the boy with a family and responsibilities and asks how the boy would feel if their roles were reversed. The book ends with the boy's big shoe still raised and the question remaining: "to squish or not to squish?" The story, which is meant, of course, to raise the consciousness of children about the value of all living things, does so in a very engaging manner through its humorous verse and funny but pointed illustrations. Role reversal is presented by a two-page spread of a giant ant looking down at a tiny boy. A child and adult could easily take turns playing the roles of ant and boy, either reading their lines or singing them, since the music is also provided.