The Ant and the Grasshopper [Hardcover]

Amy Lowry Poole (Author, Illustrator, Narrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Retells the fable about a colony of industrious ants which busily prepares for the approaching winter while a grasshopper makes no plans for the cold weather to come.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Aesop's fable is transported to the Chinese Emperor's summer palace, and it is an effective move. Most versions of this fable fail to go beyond the basic message, but Poole's paintings and simple text capture the wistful nature of this story, evoking the lazy days and magical nights of summer. The ants here may be thinking in the long term, but they are so busy working that they fail to see the beauty around them; the grasshopper may be doomed but appreciates the summer more than the busy ants. Poole uses ink and gouache on rice paper in double-page spreads to capture the style, subtle colors, and mistiness of traditional Chinese paintings. Yet her pictures aren't merely imitative--they're heightened with an added layer of Western energy. And, although simple, many of the illustrations feature surprising details, such as the animals outlined in the subterranean reaches of the ants' chambers. A wonderfully refreshing spin on the familiar fable. Todd Morning
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

Aesop's fable is transported to the Chinese Emperor's summer palace, and it is an effective move. Most versions of this fable fail to go beyond the basic message, but Poole's paintings and simple text capture the wistful nature of this story, evoking the lazy days and magical nights of summer. The ants here may be thinking in the long term, but they are so busy working that they fail to see the beauty around them; the grasshopper may be doomed but appreciates the summer more than the busy ants. Poole uses ink and gouache on rice paper in double-page spreads to capture the style, subtle colors, and mistiness of traditional Chinese paintings. Yet her pictures aren't merely imitative--they're heightened with an added layer of Western energy. And, although simple, many of the illustrations feature surprising details, such as the animals outlined in the subterranean reaches of the ants' chambers. A wonderfully refreshing spin on the familiar fable. Todd Morning Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved (Boolist )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House; 1st edition (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823414779
• ISBN-13: 978-0823414772
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 10.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,053,645 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful retelling of a classic story, October 24, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Ant and the Grasshopper (Hardcover)

This retelling of the classic Aesop fable is set in China, at the Emperor's Summer Palace. In this version, as in the classic, the ants work diligently over the summer to prepare for the long winter, when food will be in short supply and the temperature quite cold. The grasshopper, on the other hand, prefers to sing and dance during the long summer days, doing no preparation at all. In the end, the ants are rewaded for their hard work by being warm and full during the winter days, while the grasshopper is left to suffer in the cold. The illustrations were done on rice paper with ink and gouache paint. Not only do they support and enhance the text, but they are truly beautiful works of art. They are a delightful mix of soft, subtle colors and vibrant colors. The rice paper background provides a strong sense of texture and depth. Children ages 4 to 6 will be drawn in by the stunning illustrations, and will learn a valuable lession from the story as a whole.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Story, April 3, 2002

By 

Megan Allyn (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ant and the Grasshopper (Hardcover)

While the ants are hard at work collecting food for the long winter, the grasshopper only plays and does no work at all to prepare for the long harsh winter up ahead. Soon the winter comes and the ants are warm and have plenty of food to eat. However the grasshopper is out in the cold with no food at all. I liked the illustrations in this book, and I also enjoyed the way the author told the moral to the readers. The author's main moral was that there are times when you can play and times when you need to do work, and you can't play all the time. The moral is easily understandable so that children will be able to pick up on it. Also it is a great way in introduce time management to older children

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful artwork!, September 11, 2000

By 

Xeneri - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ant and the Grasshopper (Hardcover)

I liked this retelling of a classic -- especially in the slight twist - yes, the ants have foresight but they are workaholics and the grasshopper may not be industrious but he appreciats the beauty of a summer night. But it's the elegant illustrations that really catch my eye and highlight this story. Delicate ink strokes with sharp details on rice paper capture the spirit of chinese art and are a wonderful complement to the story's setting. Simply gorgeous and a treat for the eyes. It makes me believe that Aesop should have done this himself!