I Saw an Ant on the Railroad Track [Hardcover]

Joshua Prince (Author), Macky Pamintuan (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1–When Switchman Jack sees a black ant strolling down the railroad track in search of a snack, he tries to reroute a 10-ton freight train. However, the switch is stuck, and, just when readers start to worry that there will be an ant-astrophe, the tale takes a turn: that ant.../made a beeline for my brown lunch sack/as the train whooshed by, screaming.../CLICKETY-CLACK! The story builds effectively to a screeching crescendo, but some of the vocabulary, such as ruin to wrack, might stump children. The big, bold color caricatures have a timeless feel, in keeping with the text. Pamintuan uses changing perspectives to draw readers into the plight of the ant as it is confronted by the enormous smoking train. When the ambling insect spies Jack's sandwich on the ground, it gets a determined look in its eye. The folksy rhyme would be most effective as a read-aloud; in the hands of a talented storyteller, the conflict could take on enormous proportions.–Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 1. "Well, I saw an ant on the railroad track. / The rail was bright. / The ant was black. / He was walking along, tickety-tack." Speaking this sprightly rhyme is Switchman Jack, whose job it is to make sure that trains don't collide. But when he spots a tiny ant on the track, it is his job is to make sure "an eastbound ant" doesn't run into a "westbound train." There are also a few breath-holding moments as the ant keeps up his steady march toward the train. Then the switch gets stuck! But the ant is smarter than it looks and veers off the track--all the better to share lunch with Jack. Prince's text is rhythmically perfect, and it will be lots of fun to read aloud. Pamintuan's computer-enhanced artwork makes use of all sorts of interesting perspectives, some from the tiny ant's view, and some from tall Jack's. It's a bit disconcerting that Jack is appealingly drawn in a brawny, realistic manner, whereas the ant is more of a cartoon, but kids will have fun with this, and so will their parents. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 24 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (April 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402721838
• ISBN-13: 978-1402721830
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 10.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #98,684 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great New Book, May 14, 2006

By 

Amy "a preschool mom" (stevensville,md usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Saw an Ant on the Railroad Track (Hardcover)

I chose this book to read aloud to my son's preschool class and they loved it! The writing is exciting and the pictures are wonderful. And if you care to look beyond the great writing/illustrations you can explore the bigger themes of empathy and the strong caring for the weak with your child. All and all a fun read for adults and kids that does not pander to either group. I hope to see alot more from this new author-it's a treat to read a children's book that is geared towards kids instead of their parents!(My mom is a 20 year veteran of the public library system in the children's department and agrees that this is a great read!)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just a favorite - this will be a keepsake favorite!, June 25, 2009

By 

slicchic (georgia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: I Saw an Ant on the Railroad Track (Hardcover)

I purchased the softcover edition at a book fair a several years ago having no idea how great it would be (it has held up nicely despite "the love" we've shown it). My son is 5 1/2, and we just read it again tonight! This is by far one of his all time favorites, and one of mine too! I can't begin to tell you how many times we've read this book - and "I" never get tired of it either! The book is cleverly written and a joy to read with a lot of expression. "And on the horizon, sure as shellac, was a frieght train freighting down the track, heading straight for the ant walking tickety-tack. Ten tons of iron, coal-pitch black! Now what to do? Think quick! Think, Jack! Before that train and ant go whack! So I grabbed the switch and dropped my sack, pulled with my arms, pulled with my back...." It was also a great book for practice counting - my son loved to count the number of "train coaches" and is always amazed at how many coaches there are. I must also say that this book is remarkably and beautifully illustrated, which goes that much further to make the book so great! I actually am here to purchase a hardcover edition as a keepsake, and it dawned on me to add this review. Buy the book!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Read Aloud, May 24, 2007

By 

Lisa Coker (Baytown, Tx USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Saw an Ant on the Railroad Track (Hardcover)

This is one of my faves for preschool storytime reading.

The rhymes are natural, the plot is gripping and the pictures are large and humorous.

If you read to groups of preschoolers - or are doing a unit on insects at your primary school - don't miss this one.