Antics!

by Cathi Hepworth

A gift edition of a word-play alphabet book features alphabet entries from A to Z that all have an 'ant' somewhere in the word, such as E for Enchanter, P for Pantaloons, S for Santa Claus, and Y for Your Ant Yetta.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Education, Fiction, Juvenile, School

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book for everybody... *except* preschoolers who are learning their alphabet. I'm going to pass around to my entire family this LFL find before re-releasing it.

I'll also ask them to choose their favorite page(s). It's hard to pick just one, but I'm going to go with Deviant... because though the illustration shows someone who might be seen as some as a juvenile delinquent, the point is that he's just different, expressing his own developing self-identity, not actually hurting anyone. I also like the stretch for a brand-new X word....

What's your favorite picture, or vocabulary word, or page?

Parents and other educators, how many ways could you use this as a mentor text in your home or classroom?

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A couple of friends recommended this fun little treat. After their great reviews knew I had to find a copy.

Okay, so it might be a little advanced compared to other alphabet books. Still, the pictures and one word per page make it a quick memorized book. It may be more fun for older siblings to read to younger ones with a more advanced vocabulary. And parents and teachers can find a lot of conversation starters on each page.

First of all, ANTS! Hey, you could obtain a good ant farm for the kids to watch or a walkout to see ants in their true habitats. Hopefully, you haven't been inundated by the ones that love your kitchen. But, heck, there's another educational moment for you and the students.

The illustrations are so much fun! Who knew ants could be so expressive? This brings me to the choose your favorite page. My friends chose Deviant and Chant. I do like both of those. But my favorite is a psychological thriller with personal history. Hesitant. I remember graduating to the level of the high dive. I remember the first time actually climbing back down the ladder to my shame and embarrassment. I gave myself speeches for days and was determined to do it the next time. I did get all the way out on the board—no diving for my first few times. Even the first jump, I felt hesitant. I don't remember ever getting confident on that dive. I preferred the sturdy diving platform, and I could dive from and reach the other end of the pool in one breath.

I think I will donate this to our little library.

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Text: 3 stars
Illustrations: 5 stars

An ant-themed alphabet book that steers clear of the usual words featured in alphabet books and delves into challenging vocabulary instead. Unfortunately, some of the word choices are a bit too odd. How many pre-schoolers will know who Kant or Rembrandt are? The word "pantaloons" also seems like a strange selection for the targeted age group. But the worst choice is "xanthophile," which I had to look up despite having two advanced degrees in English. (It means someone who loves the color yellow.) Still, I love the ants, the illustrations, and the off-beat humor.

[Ralph McEwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has wonderful detailed art. Delightful. I even learned a new word. I agree with Cheryl that the word are beyond the youngest readers. Cheryl ask me to choose a favorite and it is tough to choose, but I choose Chant.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note, this book was read before I got a Goodreads account as part of a challenge to read 50 new books by the end of 2019. I wrote a review for it right after I read it and copy pasted it here. I should also note that I'm an adult who doesn't have kids who just picked it up for the whimsy of it. And because I'm an entomologist who is a sucker for all insectile things.

Today I picked this picture book out of the free bin where a local used bookstore dumps books they don't think they'll be able to sell (or have tried to and failed). The stickers on the outside and card sleeve on the inside show that it once belonged to one of the middle schools here. I wonder how it ended up in the bookstore's hands.

Including only the actual meat of the book (not the copyright, author bio, title, etc.) there are exactly 29 words. The entire book is comprised of groan inducing lame puns all revolving around the word "ant", accompanied by a picture of ants that matches the pun. I am such a sucker for insect puns and the art is pretty good. That said, some of the puns were such a stretch that they hurt (for example, Nonchalant which doesn't really sound like ant and Xanthophile which I'm guessing through internet searches and the context given by the picture means someone who loves the color yellow, but I'm pretty sure the author created that word to justify a sunbathing ant on a banana).

This book speaks to me in how it holds in balance the joy and horror of lame puns. Overall, it was something fun to read while I drank my coffee. No regrets.

[SaraKat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This ABC book highlights words that contain the word 'ant' somewhere inside them. Some of them were truly clever and made me laugh--like the word 'nonchalant' illustrated with the I-don't-give-a-damn scene from Gone With the Wind. :) I thought some of the chosen words and scenes were a little bit of a stretch, but some letters don't really give the author much to work with! This book was listed in my children's literature text as a 'Timeless Gem' of a picture book. Cute, but of limited entertainment value. It would be good for teaching a small amount of vocabulary.

[Mackenzie Guthrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good pun, this is great.

Y’all- Y’ALL, this whooole book is just alphabetically-z a list of words that nOT ONLY are illustrated wonderfully… bUT ARE ALL ANT PUNS.
(do u understand why I have so much love for this book).

Antique brilliant chant and more!! I! Am! So! Happy! THIS is my kinda book.

(Though quarantine hit a lil too close to home rn bucko).

[Kyler Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun alphabet book that would be good for young student. However some of the word choices are a little strange because the author sptries to use words you wouldn't notmally find in an alphabrt book

[Amanda Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really simple book, but I actually really enjoyed the read. It takes letters of the alphabet and the word "ant" and combines them. I had no idea that so many words have the word ant in them. (Poetry).

[Smurf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a very cute, clever way to teach the alphabet. It's the typical A-apple format, but it somehow included "ant" in each word, like "antics" for example. I enjoyed it, and each new ant word amused me.

[Camille Haynie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Picture Book. I liked this book and the play it is on the alphabet. Good for higher-level readers.

[Alexandria Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book for young children. Teaches about the alphabetical anthology.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

An alphabet book that shows the word "ant" in every word used from A to Z.

[Hannah]

How would one even get the idea to do something like this let alone execute it so perfectly? I’m impressed.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the most creative ABC book I have ever seen! Each letter has a corresponding word that contains the word "ant." The illustrations that go with each of the words have ants who are acting out the word. The illustrations are very entertaining. I would not use this for very young children, though, because many of the words would be way too confusing for K-2nd graders. The youngest I would use this with would be 3rd because they are at a point where their vocabulary has grown enough to be able to find and understand definitions in the dictionary, so they could look up the words in the book that they may not understand.

[Cassie Paries · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a good book to teach about words that have the word "ant" in them. It is a good book for teaching children how to read and look for patterns. It is good for language arts. It also makes learning fun with the fun ant pictures. I thought it was very clever and witty. I enjoyed learning about all the words that have "ant" in them. I am horrible when it comes to spelling. Fortunately, this book helps with spelling because it breaks up the words using the familiar word "ant" it also teaches where it falls in certain words. This is a good book for teaching children about spelling and reading.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just a fun ABC book. The illustrations are fun and I just think Cathi Hepworth is incredibly clever. She got 26 words, one starting with each letter of the alphabet, that all included the word "ant" within it. Check out the letter D...it's my favorite!

This book could be used when teaching phonics. Since "ant" is included in every word, the book really reinforces the letter-sound relationship. Also, in words like "brilliant" or "jubilant" where ant sounds a little different, you can use that as an opportunity to talk about the exceptions to the rules when it comes to phonics.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book because of its creativity. The word "ant" is found on every word in the book. However, some of the words are "iffy" such as the word for "z" (AntZzzzz) or for "y" (Your Ant Yetta). Also one of the words isn't even spelled correctly (the word for "r"- Rembrandt, the artist. In the book, it was spelled Rembrant. Good try.)

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly unusual and interesting Alphabet book with the word "Ant" in every word, from A to Z. The illustrations are equally interesting, incorporating Ants in poses that illustrate the word. Many of the words are more advanced than our girls are used to hearing, but the pictures help to explain the words.

[N · Rating 4 out of 5]

First work of children's literature that I've come across that's referenced Kant.

Besides being groundbreaking, it's terribly clever being an alphabet book with one rule, every word has to contain the three letters A-N-T. Illustrations are equally funny and help define the words that aren't common in the early elementary student's vocabulary.

F is for Flamboyant and D is for Deviant :)

[Darrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of the alphabet but may be a little advanced for emergent readers. The author usez clever word plat to expand readers' vocabulary on words that have "ant" as part of the word. The illustrations to depict the words make the book really and helps readers figure out possible meanings to words they are unfamiliar with.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love unique alphabet books, and this one just might take the cake. (A true alphabet book test is to see what they came up with for 'x.') The pictures are great, the letter-associated words are unique, and every single one has the word 'ant' in it. The author struggled a bit with 'y,' but some of the other words she came up with are so great that I can almost let it slide.

[Meribeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever alphabet book incorporates use of "ant" in each of the letters with accompanying illustrations. KANT is a stretch for "K." As is XANTHOPHILE, for X. This can work for third graders and up, but because of these two mentioned is difficult for younger ages, who typically would be most interested in ABC books. Still I do enjoy it!

[Jd Ehringer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another good book to help kids review the alphabet. The one think that I didn't like about this book is that the words were pretty complex so younger kids may not understand. Not a book I would use simply because we have seen other books that I personally believe are more suited to teach kids the alphabet.

[Megan Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a concept book for older children. There is one descriptive word per page, and each page has a unique picture of an ant doing something human like. For example for the word "antique" the ant is dressed in a dress sitting on a rocking chair on a porch, crocheting, listening to a victrola. The pictures are really funny.

[Shawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that the creative take she has on alphabet books. YOu actualy have to spend time on the illustrations to find the letters as well. Perfect for a lesson on searching for the answer or for teachingthe alphabet creatively.

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Antics!
Hepworth, Cathi
using the alphabet children are exposed to words that inclued the word ant, many are difficult and conceptual but the pictures help explain the meaning of the words, and are quite funny.

[Devane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a super cute and creative book. I thought it was best how each letter of the alphabet had ant in it. This would be a fun one to read with kids and then have them make an a-z alphabet that had a theme.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book cracked me up. It took me a few pages to see that this ABC book had the word "ant" in every word (minus the Y page). I laughed many times, and my favorite page was the Pantaloons. This would be a great book to help children see the similar letter patterns in words.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever, hilarious, great illustrations. This book came out in 1992 and I sure wish I'd discovered it then, when my kids were little. It's still a fun read. And I ant-icipate that you'll be involved with various verbal ant-ics after reading...