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Two Bad Ants Hardcover – Picture Book, October 24, 1988
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The ants are tired of their humdrum life in the same ant hole, so they’re off to the strange new world of a kitchen in search of sugar crystals for their queen.
But when two ants stay behind and take a nap in the sugar bowl, they are in for a wild ride. Falling into a sizzling cup of coffee and a heated stay inside of a toaster is just the beginning for these misbehaved ants.
Will they ever make it back home?
Chris Van Allsburg’s terrific story about the consequences of disobeying reminds us all that the comforts of home aren’t so bad after all.
- Print length32 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade levelPreschool - 3
- Lexile measure780L
- Dimensions8.12 x 0.38 x 11.75 inches
- PublisherClarion Books
- Publication dateOctober 24, 1988
- ISBN-100395486688
- ISBN-13978-0395486689
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| Get immersed in the worlds of Chris Van Allsburg | In this holiday classic, the Polar Express makes its way to the huge city standing alone at the top of the world, where the boy will make his Christmas wish. | This story about a game that comes startlingly to life is a family favorite that inspires imagination and explores the ever-shifting line between fantasy and reality. | When Harris Burdick goes missing, all he’s left behind are a series of drawings with captions. Enticed to come up with their own endings, readers will marvel at the mystery behind these lasting drawings and the charm of an ever changing narrative. | The very thin line between illusion and reality was blurred the day Alan Mitz stumbled into the garden of Abdul Gasazi. Even after Alan escapes, the spell of Gasazi still seems to penetrate into his everyday world. | A companion to the Caldecott Medal–winning Jumanji—this is a tale of intergalactic adventure and sibling rivalry where a roll of the dice transports two brothers to the mythical land of Zathura. | The enchanting story of a widow who finds herself in possession of an extraordinary broom after a witch falls into her garden. |
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| Get immersed in the worlds of Chris Van Allsburg | At the turn of the nineteenth century, a retired charm school instructor seeking fame and fortune, decided to do something that no one in the world had ever done before—she would go over Niagara Falls in a wooden barrel. | The enigmatic origins of the stranger that Farmer Bailey hits with his truck and brings home to recuperate seem to have a mysterious relation to the weather. Could he be Jack Frost? | This inspired collection of short stories inspired by The Mysteries of Harris Burdick features many remarkable, best-selling authors in the worlds of both adult and children's literature. | Monsieur Bibot was given two ordinary-looking figs as payment for extracting a tooth from an old woman's mouth. He eats one fig and realizes it makes his dream come true. He is determined to control his dreams before he eats the second fig. | This provocative story within a story leads readers to ponder the realities of fictional worlds and the lives of the characters who populate them. | The story of a boy and his obsession to become the world’s greatest sailor and a storm that carried him to a place where boats sail on the wind, instead of on the water. |
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| Get immersed in the worlds of Chris Van Allsburg | The ants are tired of their humdrum life in the same ant hole, so they’re off to the strange new world of a kitchen in search of sugar crystals for their queen. When two ants stay behind and take a nap in the sugar bowl, they are in for a wild ride. | A dramatic black- and- white presentation of the alphabet which depicts a mysterious transformation of each letter. | In a story recounted through the daily log of Captain Allan Hope, the sailors aboard the Rita Anne become mesmerized and transformed by a mysterious glowing rock, and only music and books can restore them to normal. | On a terrifically rainy day, Ben has a dream in which he and his house float by the monuments of the world. | Travel with young Walter on a fantastical adventure as he journeys—by way of his bed—into a polluted dreamscape world that wakes him up to our collective and individual environmental responsibility. | Being a pet store hamster isn’t much fun for Sweetie Pie, but life in human homes proves perilous. As Sweetie Pie gazes out of his cage at the squirrels frolicking in the trees, he wonders if he’ll ever have the chance to feel the wind in his fur. |
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"Children will be fascinated by the ant-eye view that Van Allsburg provides of common everyday items." Booklist, ALA —
About the Author
Chris Van Allsburg is one of America’s most innovative picture book creators. He was awarded the Caldecott Medal for Jumanji and The Polar Express and received a Caldecott Honor for his very first book, The Garden of Abdul Gasazi. He has received the Regina Medal for lifetime achievement in children’s literature, a National Book Award, and a Society of Illustrators Lifetime Achievement Award, among other honors. He lives outside of Boston, Massachusetts. Visit him at chrisvanallsburg.com.
Product details
- Publisher : Clarion Books (October 24, 1988)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 32 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0395486688
- ISBN-13 : 978-0395486689
- Reading age : 3 - 8 years, from customers
- Lexile measure : 780L
- Grade level : Preschool - 3
- Item Weight : 15.2 ounces
- Dimensions : 8.12 x 0.38 x 11.75 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #20,857 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Chris Van Allsburg is the winner of two Caldecott Medals, for Jumanji and The Polar Express, as well as the recipient of a Caldecott Honor Book for The Garden of Abdul Gasazi. The author and illustrator of numerous picture books for children, he has also been awarded the Regina Medal for lifetime achievement in children's literature. In 1982, Jumanji won the National Book Award and in 1996, it was made into a popular feature film. Chris Van Allsburg was formerly an instructor at the Rhode Island School of Design. He lives in Rhode Island with his wife and two children.
Customer reviews
- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star5 star91%6%2%0%0%91%
- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star4 star91%6%2%0%0%6%
- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star3 star91%6%2%0%0%2%
- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star2 star91%6%2%0%0%0%
- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star1 star91%6%2%0%0%0%
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book awesome for teaching perspective and inference to upper elementary students. They also describe the story as captivating, interesting, and suspenseful. Readers praise the creativity, use of details, and theme. They appreciate the fabulous illustrations and beautiful pictures.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book awesome for teaching point of view, inference, and sequencing. They say it's engaging for elementary school and a perfect mentor text for developing schema, inferencing, and text evidence. Readers also mention that the book is suspenseful and children get to make lots of predictions.
"My grandson absolutely loves this book! It’s great to teach sequencing too!" Read more
"...This book also offers a lovely way to consider perspective...." Read more
"...It is great for teaching perspective, point of view, use of details and theme...." Read more
"...Great perspective for readers." Read more
Customers find the story captivating, interesting, and exciting. They also mention it's suspenseful and a great experience for both the volunteers and the children.
"...It was funny and exciting all at once...." Read more
"...It' a great experience for both the volunteers and the children. My choice of authors is always Chris Van Allsburg." Read more
"...It's a very cute story, very funny. I found it at the public library and just had to buy it for myself." Read more
"super clever and exciting. My kids are mesmerized by it...." Read more
Customers find the book creative, clever, and exciting. They also appreciate the striking artwork and thought-provoking plot. Readers mention the pictures work well as writing prompts for middle school classes.
"...The plot and illustrations are thought-provoking and what you might expect from Chris Van Allsburg (Polar Express)...." Read more
"super clever and exciting. My kids are mesmerized by it...." Read more
"A great book by an amazing author. The pictures work well as writing prompts for my middle school classes." Read more
"One of the best children's books I've ever read. So creative!!" Read more
Customers find the illustrations fabulous, beautiful, and great. They also say the story is perfect for helping students make inferences.
"This is a classic from Chris Van Allsburg. As always, his illustrations are amazing, and the pictures can be used for an array of teaching ideas,..." Read more
"Pictures were great, and story was perfect to help students make inferences during the read-aloud." Read more
"...Great story and fabulous illustrations!" Read more
"Good book, great art. Now my son wants an ant farm, through. His Mom's not too happy about that." Read more
Reviews with images
Splendid book, but sloppy packing ruined the magic
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The best part is the world of humans seen through the eyes of the uncomprehending ants, whose adventures take them from the proverbial frying pan into the fire. They barely escape with their lives, quite relieved to rejoin the group and return to serving their beloved queen.
A true modern classic.
It was a hit the children in his class were very tentative with every word I read they loved the book from cover to cover. It was just perfect. It made my day that they were so pleased and my
great nephew just loved it. He was squarming in his seat with excitement waiting to see what was going to happen to the Two Bad Ants.
Second, I pull this book out whenever ants appear in our classroom, once or twice a year. It's a good reminder to clean up after ourselves carefully (not just because an adult requested!). This book also offers a lovely way to consider perspective. Children spontaneously suggested what they thought the moral of the story might be, even though a moral is not emphasized in the book. It's a favorite... children love to hear it more than once.










