There Are No Ants in This Book

by Rosemary Mosco, Anna Pirolli (Illustrator)

This hilarious meta picture book from the author of Butterflies Are Pretty . . . Gross! shows us that ants aren't so bad. In fact, they're pretty amazing, and with their humongous families, they might turn your picnic into a party!

Nothing can ruin a picnic faster than a bunch of ants. It's a good thing there are no ants in this book . . . well, maybe there's only one. Or two. . . . Or ten??

Maybe it's not so bad. Ants are kind of cool, after all — especially the ones with amazing butts, like the Acrobat Ant that waves its back end around to scare off enemies. Or the Slender Leaf Ant that can glide through the air. Or the Dinosaur Ant, which is the biggest ant in the world! Okay, so a picnic with ants is actually lots of fun!

But what if an anteater also wants to join the picnic?

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Animals, Childrens, Nature, Humor, Stem

40 pages, Hardcover

First published July 16, 2024

About the author

Rosemary makes books and cartoons that connect people with the natural world. Her Bird and Moon nature comics won the National Cartoonists Society’s award for Best Online Short Form Comic and were the subject of an award-winning museum exhibit. She makes best-selling science books for kids and adults and gives keynotes at birding festivals. She’s written and drawn for The New York Times, Audubon, PBS kids’ Elinor Wonders Why, Ranger Rick, and more. She’s represented by Seth Fishman. Her favorite glacial landform is the esker.

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

There Are No Ants In This Book is a super cute and funny meta picture book about a girl who decides this book is the ideal place to have her picnic because of the title. She soon realises the book has many ants, but they give her all sorts of fun and interesting information about different types of ants (and their butts!). It's a genuinely fun and educational book, with super cute art that gives us a good idea of what the ants look like too. Recommended!

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything about this picture book is perfect. I love the child's stubborn opening attitude and their dislike of ants, and how gradually the ants themselves make them change their mind, while educating the reader about a whole lot of different ants that are out there and how each has a specific role in its community. Anna Pirolli's illustrations are wonderful and I love Rosemary Mosco's underlying message of inclusiveness mixed in with the wry fresh humor and ant education. Thank you Tundra Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

[Patricia Q · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for any myrmecophile. (ant lover) 🐜

[Jay]

I love Rosemary and everything she does. Knew I'd love this book but was still impressed and beaming.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever introduction to various types of ants. Well received by first graders.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Netgalley Arc
This is the cutest book! You learn all about different kinds of ants! The illustrations are wonderful as well!!!! This would be a great classroom read a loud!

[Carol Gordon Ekster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a surprisingly delightful picture book. Kids will love, teachers will love it, parents will love. You will laugh and learn about different kinds of aunts! Adorable, clever and creative!

[Michelle Smith-Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this book, There Are No Ants in This Book, sets the reader up to wonder when the author will talk about the reason for that title, or if ants will somehow appear without the author seemingly intending for them to do so. The main character in the book seems adamant when starting her picnic that she doesn't want to see an ant and that she believes the promise of the title, that there are no ants in the book. As the story progresses the ants secretly surprise the reader by hiding in the corners of the pictures and under things, etc. The girl is unaware until her picnic is underway but then she finds out that ants aren't bad as the ants tell her interesting things about themselves. In the end, the girl even helps the ants, and you will have to read the story to find out how that is true. This book is one of those books that will make you curious and also make you laugh, a mixture of learning and fun!

[Sunday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mosco has crafted a humorous introduction to a wide variety of ants. Pirolli's vibrant illustrations add to the hilarity. The content is fascinating with refreshing, lesser known facts. There's a colony of ants that houses in a single acorn - acorn ants. There's a type of ant with a flat head to block the hole to its family's home in a tree - turtle ants. There's a type of ant that fills its "butt" with nectar and other food to store for when food is scarce - the honeypot ant.

As I was reading, I wondered if children would grasp that these ants are from all over the world. (You won't run into all of them at one picnic like in the setting of this book.) DON'T SKIP THE BACK MATTER - great layout and design with details about each ant featured in the book including where they are from.

Worthy of reading aloud in PreK-1st grade. I'd PARTNER with books like -
City of Leafcutter Ants by Amy Hevron
The Wonderful Wisdom of Ants by Philip Buntin

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet introduction to the many varieties of ants. A child who is outside for a picnic declares that this is the perfect place because there are no ants. They find one, then two, then more. They grow accustomed to the ants as each one introduces itself and gives some facts about its variety. The pictures are colorful and simple enough for even young readers. Older readers will appreciate the additional information in the back about the different varieties of ants. Younger ones will find it engaging and silly. I liked the way the author broke the literary fourth wall by having the main character aware of the fact that they are in a book.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I will purchase for my library.

[Katie Hutchison Irion · Rating 4 out of 5]

There Are No Ants in this Book by Rosemary Mosco and Anna Pirolli is filled with the most colorful illustrations. I am not a fan of ants but this book made me at least admire them and sort of like them! A young girl is going on a picnic and she is looking for the perfect place to have a picnic, a place with no ants. She is pretty certain she has found such a place in this book but she quickly discovers she is wrong! She is quite disturbed that the title of the book is wrong because she does not want there to even be ONE ant in the book. Well, there are in fact lots of ants and as the ants tell her their story she begins to soften towards them and learns a lot about and even helps them escape the eyes of an anteater!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although it gives alot of information about a variety of ants, this book is packed full of fun. Right down to the anteater at the end. Kids will enjoy learning, listening, and saying MORE ANTS?!?! I mean...an ant that stores sweet sugar water in its butt. Priceless! It has very detailed illustrations (for the ants) throughout, which are super cute! I think that any reader will enjoy this book. It would be a cute storytime read. *Pointing this out because we are currently living in a book-banning crazy world -- Our main character is a wearing a rainbow wristlet/bracelet throughout the entire book. I think it just goes along with the theme that everyone/everything (including ants) are different, but it may get interpreted differently by other readers. I LOVED it! (Diamond 25-26)

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Penguin Random House Canada through NetGalley.
Mosco offers readers a look at a wide variety of ants as this young girl trust the title and decides to have a picnic. To her surprise, different ants arrive and share about themselves. She engages with them and learns about each of their species. When an anteater arrives, she hides them and reminds him of the title. I appreciate the last page with the anteater walking off. Brief paragraphs are included on each type of ant at the end of the book. The illustrations clearly capture the different types of ants and the emotions this child moves through. A fun addition to libraries.

[Jordan Tu'ulauulu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for an E-ARC in exchange for my, and my son's, honest reviews.

I think my son has a new favorite book! He's currently in a bug phase and is obssessed with ants and worms in particular, so I requested this ARC to read with him. It's cute, charming, and silly! There is a bit of a break in the fourth wall, but it is subtle and flows easily. As you can guess, there are most defnitely ants in this book. You learn about the different types of ants which was fun for both of us! My 4 year old also appreciates the number of times the word "butt" appears in this book too.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children's nonfiction, animals. The title is intentionally misleading, as this is a book about ants. But the main character finds this out along with the reader as her perfect picnic spot becomes a place for various ants to introduce themselves and their special features. We meet ten different kinds of ants of assorted sizes, one with a flat head to block off the hollow end of the twig they make their home, one with a butt that enlarges to keep an emergency nectar supply. The girl is adequately intrigued, resulting in a page spread out of my personal nightmare where she meets the ant families. She actually scares off an anteater looking for lunch. Back matter includes an enlarged picture, scientific name, and additional facts about each type of ant.

[Tanya Konerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this fun, summery meta-style digitally-illustrated picture book, when a girl heads out to have a solo picnic, she discovers the perfect ant-free book with the perfect ant-free space for one. After setting up, though, she soon discovers there ARE in fact a variety of ants in this book, as one by one they introduce themselves. Coming to grips with this fact, the girl at first panics, but soon decides she's happy to enjoy the ants' company, even helping to save them from a dreaded foe. Simple back matter offers a bit more information about each ant.

[Martha Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A European illustrator gives this book a great look and the text is full of humor! The book introduces kids to 10 different kinds of ants from around the world with a few characteristics of each ant shared in the text while the backmatter gives a fuller explanation for kids who want to learn more. There is a frustrated anteater, too, and a quick escape under a hat! (all ridiculous)
Generally, I prefer books that focus on one ecosystem, but this review is so much more than a catalog:
a very funny read aloud.

[Heather Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a clever way to share with kids the fascinating diversity of ants! We are surprised right along with the main character, who is on a solo picnic and believes, as the title states, THERE ARE NO ANTS IN THIS BOOK. One by one we are introduced to different kinds of ants who are in attendance, and gradually the girl decides she is happy for their company. She’s so happy in fact that she helps save them from a surprise predator. Kids will delight in the humor and vibrant art and of course all the cool ants!

[Emily Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

There Are No Ants in This Book by Rosemary Mosco, illustrated by Anna Pirolli, is a fun and informative picture book about ants. The story is told from the perspective of a child who insists there are no ants around, but soon, different types of ants appear, each with their own special traits. The book uses humor to teach kids about ants while keeping it light and entertaining.

With colorful illustrations and simple facts, this book is perfect for young children who are curious about insects. It's an enjoyable read that combines learning with laughter!

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 10 year old ant-loving daughter chose this book even though the title clearly states there were no ants in the book, and she was happily surprised when she found out the book title was wrong.
I thought this book was so wonderful on the approach of teaching kids about ants in a fun way.

I also loved the added informational part at the end of the book so the kids can learn about the ants mentioned in the book.

BTW, I should have known we were going to love this book because we have loved all the books we have read so far from this author.

[Kirsten Sanzone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and funny book about ants.
Beautiful illustration and bright colours make this book appealing. Children will love the way ants keep popping up in the background. There are some great facts about the different types of ants and the information is easy to read. The storyline is short and cute but is really just a way to introduce the ants.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[April Hilland · Rating 4 out of 5]

"There Are No Ants in This Book" is not just a story; it's an immersive learning experience that sparks curiosity and fosters a deeper appreciation for the natural world. Whether read aloud in the classroom or enjoyed at home, this charming book is sure to captivate young minds and inspire a newfound fascination with the tiny creatures that often go unnoticed. It's a must-have addition to any library, providing the perfect balance of fun and learning for curious young readers.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The little girls always thought every picnic attracted ants. Wow, she was wrong and the little girl ended up loving the ants. The story introduced ants and the importance of their existences to nature. The story was the best way to teach biology to the young reader.
Thank you Rosemary Mosoco author, Anna Pirolli Illustrator, and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this charming picture book and I wrote an honest review.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

No matter how your kids feel about ants, this is one story that everyone should read. There are all kinds of ants as the young girl in the story finds out. She goes from being adverse to them to being their friend. Great story that was so much fun to read. I suggest you read it and read it every day. And don’t forget to have a picnic!
I received this advanced reader copy for free from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Angie Quantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is super adorable! I love the way the MC talks to the reader, and the (though there are supposed to be zero) ants! Funny, well written, and full of interesting ants and what makes them special. Another nice book layer is counting from 0-10. Plus, great back matter that shares about each ant. Vibrant illustrations and succinct just right text. Perfect picnic location, no ants, more ants, a surprise guest, and plenty of FUN! Two thumbs up!

[Jennifer Miera · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had trouble suspending belief because all of these ants are from all over the world and would not show up at one picnic together. Also, the Dinosaur Ant drops out of the sky for some reason in the illustrations. I appreciate that the author was trying to introduce some nonfiction about ants and raise awareness and appreciation, but the concept didn't work for me. The page where all of the ants' families are swarming all over the girl is actually a bit disturbing - even though she's smiling.

[Kyla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Describes several different ants' eating habits, living conditions, means of defense, and physical characteristics . Illustrations of each ant better enhance the information given. However, there was some reason to suspect a hidden agenda as the main girl character had a rainbow colored bracelet throughout the entire book. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review this book.

[Rachel Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nobody wants ants at their picnic. Or do they? Who knew ants could be so interesting??

This one would be a great nonfiction read aloud. The illustrations are wonderful. There’s ant butt humor. And I love that they’ve included a glossary for further information in the back!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those adaptable books that kids of all ages will love. Suitable for storytimes, classrooms, and more! I appreciate how Mosco wove ant facts right into the narrative. Looking for similiar books now like this one...

Themes: ants, picnics, books
Ages: toddler-3rd grade+ (shorten & simplify for littles)
Pub year: 2024

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an "Informational fiction" book, in that readers will learn about all sorts of different kinds of ants, but it is wrapped in a fictional story about a girl who doesn't want ants at her picnic. I could see including this in a storytime for older kids with a picnic or insect theme. Because who could say No to some cool ant butts?