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Usborne First Reading Level 1
The Ant and the Grasshopper
This is a new title in the fantastic "First Reading" series, aimed at children who are beginning to read. It is a thoughtful retelling of Aesop's fable. It's the middle of summer and while the grasshopper is enjoying himself, the ant is busy preparing for winter and when winter arrives both the ant and the grasshopper learn something about the merits of hard work. This key series was developed in conjunction with reading expert Allison Kelly from the University of Surrey, a reading specialist. Every title has clear and compelling text that allows children to build their burgeoning reading skills and is accompanied by charming and highly appealing illustrations.
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2008
4 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Aesop
2,346 books1,085 followers620 BC - 564 BC
Tradition considers Greek fabulist Aesop as the author of Aesop's Fables , including "The Tortoise and the Hare" and "The Fox and the Grapes."
This credited ancient man told numerous now collectively known stories. None of his writings, if they ever existed, survive; despite his uncertain existence, people gathered and credited numerous tales across the centuries in many languages in a storytelling tradition that continues to this day. Generally human characteristics of animals and inanimate objects that speak and solve problems characterize many of the tales.
One can find scattered details of his life in ancient sources, including Aristotle, Herodotus, and Plutarch. An ancient literary work, called The Aesop Romance tells an episodic, probably highly fictional version of his life, including the traditional description of him as a strikingly ugly slave (δοῦλος), whose cleverness acquires him freedom as an adviser to kings and city-states. Older spellings of his name included Esop(e) and Isope. A later tradition, dating from the Middle Ages, depicts Aesop as a black Ethiopian. Depictions of Aesop in popular culture over the last two and a half millennia included several works of art and his appearance as a character in numerous books, films, plays, and television programs.
Abandoning the perennial image of Aesop as an ugly slave, the movie Night in Paradise (1946) cast Turhan Bey in the role, depicting Aesop as an advisor to Croesus, king; Aesop falls in love with a Persian princess, the intended bride of the king, whom Merle Oberon plays. Lamont Johnson also plays Aesop the Helene Hanff teleplay Aesop and Rhodope (1953), broadcast on hallmark hall of fame.
Brazilian dramatist Guilherme Figueiredo published A raposa e as uvas ("The Fox and the Grapes"), a play in three acts about the life of Aesop, in 1953; in many countries, people performed this play, including a videotaped production in China in 2000 under the title Hu li yu pu tao or 狐狸与葡萄 .
Beginning in 1959, animated shorts under the title Aesop and Son recurred as a segment in the television series Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show, its successor. People abandoned the image of Aesop as ugly slave; Charles Ruggles voiced Aesop, a Greek citizen, who recounted for the edification of his son, Aesop Jr., who then delivered the moral in the form of an atrocious pun. In 1998, Robert Keeshan voiced him, who amounted to little more than a cameo in the episode "Hercules and the Kids" in the animated television series Hercules.
In 1971, Bill Cosby played him in the television production Aesop's Fables.
British playwright Peter Terson first produced the musical Aesop's Fables in 1983. In 2010, Mhlekahi Mosiea as Aesop staged the play at the Fugard theatre in Cape Town, South Africa.
Tradition considers Greek fabulist Aesop as the author of Aesop's Fables , including "The Tortoise and the Hare" and "The Fox and the Grapes."
This credited ancient man told numerous now collectively known stories. None of his writings, if they ever existed, survive; despite his uncertain existence, people gathered and credited numerous tales across the centuries in many languages in a storytelling tradition that continues to this day. Generally human characteristics of animals and inanimate objects that speak and solve problems characterize many of the tales.
One can find scattered details of his life in ancient sources, including Aristotle, Herodotus, and Plutarch. An ancient literary work, called The Aesop Romance tells an episodic, probably highly fictional version of his life, including the traditional description of him as a strikingly ugly slave (δοῦλος), whose cleverness acquires him freedom as an adviser to kings and city-states. Older spellings of his name included Esop(e) and Isope. A later tradition, dating from the Middle Ages, depicts Aesop as a black Ethiopian. Depictions of Aesop in popular culture over the last two and a half millennia included several works of art and his appearance as a character in numerous books, films, plays, and television programs.
Abandoning the perennial image of Aesop as an ugly slave, the movie Night in Paradise (1946) cast Turhan Bey in the role, depicting Aesop as an advisor to Croesus, king; Aesop falls in love with a Persian princess, the intended bride of the king, whom Merle Oberon plays. Lamont Johnson also plays Aesop the Helene Hanff teleplay Aesop and Rhodope (1953), broadcast on hallmark hall of fame.
Brazilian dramatist Guilherme Figueiredo published A raposa e as uvas ("The Fox and the Grapes"), a play in three acts about the life of Aesop, in 1953; in many countries, people performed this play, including a videotaped production in China in 2000 under the title Hu li yu pu tao or 狐狸与葡萄 .
Beginning in 1959, animated shorts under the title Aesop and Son recurred as a segment in the television series Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show, its successor. People abandoned the image of Aesop as ugly slave; Charles Ruggles voiced Aesop, a Greek citizen, who recounted for the edification of his son, Aesop Jr., who then delivered the moral in the form of an atrocious pun. In 1998, Robert Keeshan voiced him, who amounted to little more than a cameo in the episode "Hercules and the Kids" in the animated television series Hercules.
In 1971, Bill Cosby played him in the television production Aesop's Fables.
British playwright Peter Terson first produced the musical Aesop's Fables in 1983. In 2010, Mhlekahi Mosiea as Aesop staged the play at the Fugard theatre in Cape Town, South Africa.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 17, 2018
Ant And The Grasshopper is a retelling of the original fable. The ant and grasshopper have different views about how to spend their summer. While ant is working hard to prepare for winter, grasshopper is enjoying his summer. By the time winter comes grasshopper is unprepared. A lesson of this fable teaches you that hard works pays off. This book does a great job of simplifying that and is easy to understand. The pictures are colorful and inviting.
October 9, 2018
Retold by Katie Daynes, this is a sweet and simple version of Aesop's fable about the virtues of hard work and preparedness. The story of the carefree grasshopper and the conscientious ant ends on a hopeful note of redemption. Designed for early readers, the text is basic, but conveys the plot nicely with the whimsical illustrations by Merel Eyckerman. Also featured are puzzles which help reinforce the plot. The book has been around for a while, but it continues to be a favorite early reader of mine.
March 28, 2018
The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today
February 5, 2018
Katie Daynes’s fable “The Ant and the Grasshopper” is a story that compares the contrasting personalities of a hardworking ant and a carefree grasshopper. This book contains short and simple syntax that can provide a challenge for young elementary students who are beginning to read on their own. Additionally, the colorful illustrations included in this fable are fun, imaginative, and silly, which allows this books to capture the attention of young readers.
“The Ant and the Grasshopper” would be a perfect book to use in a kindergarten or first grade classroom, because the language Daynes incorporates in her book is perfectly suited for students who are just beginning to develop their reading comprehension skills. Not only is this book great for challenging readers to begin reading on their own, but it also can be used as an introduction to a lesson about opposites, seasons, insects, kindness, and more.
Overall, I think “The Ant and the Grasshopper” is a fun, engaging read that your young readers can enjoy.
“The Ant and the Grasshopper” would be a perfect book to use in a kindergarten or first grade classroom, because the language Daynes incorporates in her book is perfectly suited for students who are just beginning to develop their reading comprehension skills. Not only is this book great for challenging readers to begin reading on their own, but it also can be used as an introduction to a lesson about opposites, seasons, insects, kindness, and more.
Overall, I think “The Ant and the Grasshopper” is a fun, engaging read that your young readers can enjoy.
December 16, 2022
that was awesome. like it was so mache fun.
July 10, 2023
A great little hook for early readers. Major bonus points for the comprehension challenges at the end.
September 22, 2023
Scratty and careless illustrations distract from the story and moral.
December 16, 2022
Breve e semplicissimo adattamento della favola di Esopo "La cicala e la formica" presentato in un inglese perfetto anche per i bambini più piccoli che si stanno approcciando a questa lingua straniera. Vengono in aiuto anche le immagini a tutta pagina che permettono ai bambini di contestualizzare alla perfezione ciò che il testo, ridotto all'osso, racconta. Si presta perfettamente ad una lettura mediata dall'adulto.
August 3, 2013
Loved the artwork. Thanks to public libraries ... A way to share such treasures
November 10, 2012
A nice story about being prepared and the payoff of hard work.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews