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Rocket Red : A Little Ant with a Big Dream

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A funny, punny, action-packed bug story. Your little music-lovers will learn about dreaming big, perseverance, determination, friendship, and teamwork...and the power of music!

Rocket Red is a little guitar-playing, singing ant who dreams of becoming a big rock star. His mom, the queen ant, disapproves! She believes his job is to work and feed the ant colony. The only one who seems to believe in him is his pal, Beebop Bea.

One day, delayed by practicing with his Lucky Bug Band, Red finds himself all alone and in a dreadful jam. Can his music somehow save him?

In addition to the fun story, children are delighted to search for Beebop Bea hiding in the pages and to count the red ants throughout the book—from the writers of the celebrated War at the Ice Cream Store and creators of Biff Bam Booza, the interactive community of trusted entertainment for kids.

Featured in Kirkus Review Magazine. "...DaVeiga's and Gibson's puns steal the show..." - Kirkus Reviews

One day, delayed by practicing with his Lucky Bug Band, Red finds himself all alone and in a dreadful jam. Can his music somehow save him?

In addition to the fun story, children are delighted to search for Beebop Bea hiding in the pages and to count the red ants throughout the book—from the writers of the celebrated War at the Ice Cream Store and creators of Biff Bam Booza, the interactive community of trusted entertainment for kids.

Kindle Edition

Published November 11, 2021

200 people are currently reading
9 people want to read

About the author

Cheryl DaVeiga

23 books31 followers
Award-winning author and songwriter Cheryl DaVeiga loves making kids laugh—and sing. She is the creator of the Biff Bam Booza picture book series and animated sing-along songs, known for their humor, rhyme, and pun-filled wordplay that delight kids and parents alike.

A former business executive from New Jersey, Cheryl’s true passion was always music. What began as a late-night songwriting habit—sparked by her then seven-year-old nephew—turned into a full creative shift. She began writing children’s songs as the cartoon character CADi Grace, and quickly found her way back to storytelling through music.

That journey led to award-winning songs across genres, including an ASCAP honor, a featured song for Alabama’s Bicentennial, the theme for the Where Angels Play Foundation, and recognition from NJ Arts.

Today, Cheryl blends her love of storytelling and songwriting in books that grow with their readers. She is excited to release her contemporary middle-grade trilogy, The Orion Sessions, launching in Spring 2026.

Kids can “get their giggles on” at BiffBamBooza.com.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for LAWonder10.
953 reviews738 followers
September 17, 2022
In Rocket Red, A Little ant with a Dream, it is an outlandish fantasy about a little ant who doesn't fit into the mold of what ants are suppose to do. He is unique and dreams really big! He doesn't seem to get any encouragement or support. He has a tiny voice since he is so small.

When he encounters a human it all changes. His very life may depend on it.

This is an outlandish story, making a point that it doesn't matter your size or what anyone says, pursue your dreams anyway.

It also makes a point that people and the animal world needs to treat each other with respect.

The illustrations are boldly colorful and expressive. The illustrator Remesh Ram did a very good job on them.

I also checked out the Activity book that goes along with Rocket Red. It is very impressive. It has every type of activity that will educate and advance the cognitive skills of each child who uses this material.

I visited BiffBamBooza.com and listened to the accompanying musical video. It is a ballad with uplifting lyrics which will surely encourage children.

I offer a Four and a Half Stars rating.

This book and Activity book ws gifted me with n pressure for a positive review. This s my honest review.
1,575 reviews30 followers
December 11, 2022
MY REVIEW OF ROCKY RED-A LITTLE ANT WITH A BIG DREAM
#iReadBookTours
Queenie was yelling at Rocky Red to stop playing and help lift a whopper hamburger someone left, but Red wanted to continue practicing with his Lucky Bug Band. But Queenie was boss, so Red said ok he would help. But Red ran across a few issues, and what he thought would be a disaster turned into the most fun he had ever had. Join Rocky Red and his friends and find out where Rock Red got his name. And find out the surprising ending to this story.
Cheryl DaVeiga and Dave Gibson is a book full of ants. But these ants are not pesky ants we have at picnics. These are fun ants and friends that love music. I think they make a pretty good band as they have fun playing together. Remesh Ram does a superb job creating and painting the animals and the background. I love the band instruments and the cute little players. I play the piano, so I love that tiny piano you created. The words of the story and the pictures created by this illustrator fit together perfectly! Authors Cheryl DaVeiga and Dave Gibson, and Remesh Ram work very well together. Can’t wait for more of their creations. Parents, your child will love this book read to them, and it’s perfect for their library. Teachers, every elementary classroom and library should have a copy of this book in their library.
If you look at the picture above my review, you will see that there is a workbook that goes with Rocky Red. There are tons of activities in this book for probably 6 and above age children. In the back of Rocky, you will find lots of information that shows you how to go online, and there are even more things online. Take advantage of these free resources available to you.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review. The opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Profile Image for Angela Thompson.
462 reviews15 followers
Read
September 14, 2022
Rocket Red: A Little Ant with a Big Dream Brings Dreams and Encouragement to the Spotlight. While it seems that little Rocket Red's mother may not support his musical ambitions, she is actually teaching him the importance of his role and the value of pulling his weight within his community and supporting others. When Rocket Red needs them the most--his bug community rallies to support him and helps him share his love of music with an even larger, unexpected community. Rocket Red is a fun book to help families talk about responsibility, supporting and encouraging others, and the importance of sharing talents and gifts.


Cute Characters, Word Play, and Fun Illustrations Entertain Readers. As little ones seek out the word "ant," hiding in larger, creatively placed spots throughout the book, older readers and caregivers will pick out some fun puns and wordplay too. With illustration-filled pages, there are characters and things to talk about on every page.


Would I Recommend Rocket Red: A Little Ant with a Big Dream by Cheryl DaVeiga and Dave Gibson? Rocket Red offers readers a lot to love, whether music lovers, bug lovers, or just those looking for a smile-filled story with a happy ending. I love the positive messages and encouraging, fun-filled tone of the book. I also loved the little Rocket Red activity book you can purchase to accompany the story. The activity book is very well done and loaded with cute, fun, age-appropriate activities. I recommend both the children's book and the activity book to readers seeking to add a regular story to the bookshelf.

I received a copy of this book for use in a blog review. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Dawn LeGros.
163 reviews37 followers
September 20, 2022
What a fun story that shows big things can be accomplished if you believe.

“Oh, sweet Bea
You believe in me.
They say that I’m too small to get too far…
But someday I’ll be a big rock star.”

That is exactly what Rocket Red did he believed in himself and we got to watch him succeed. Red was surrounded by friends who helped and believed in him too. Some said he couldn’t, he’d never succeed, he was just an ant. But we got to see him do great big things even though complications stood in his way time and time again. This book is a great anytime read to your children because it’s funny, sweet, and uplifting. We loved all the characters and the illustrations were totally rocking. No one should ever be squashed with negativity and told you can’t do something. Go ahead and be full of ANTicipation!! You can do it Red. Go Rocket Red!!! This book ROCKED!!!
Profile Image for Robbie .
440 reviews55 followers
October 7, 2022
What a cute, fun, pun-filled story from Biff, Bam, Booza! My two-year-old granddaughter is thoroughly enjoying these delightful books. She enjoys shouting "BIFF! BAM! BOOZA,"
to boot!

Cheryl DaVeiga and Dave Gibson are the authors of the book Rocket Red: The Little Red Ant with a Big Dream. All ages will be drawn to this chimerical, fascinating story.

Little Rocket Red, the ant, has BIG aspirations. As readers, we're given a front-row seat to “Rocket Red's” dream of being a musician. When Red's mother calls him to assist in gathering food for his fellow ant community, he and his motley crew of insects are abruptly pulled back to reality while on their way to achieving their goal.

Through the course of the book, several endearing puns—words where ant (or the ant sound) appears in the sentence—are introduced to us. Each word that contains the word "ant" is highlighted in red and has a little red ant above it. Instantly, antennae, antplifier, antertainment, and chant are a few of the words we meet.

Red's life serves as an inspiration for helping others, giving back to family and community, never giving up on dreams and supporting those in need.

There are more materials available as well to enhance the reading experience. Use the QR codes to join the Biff, Bam, Booza club and sing along with Red. You may also use them to find more sing-alongs. Moreover, there is an activity book with puzzles, mazes and other entertaining activities available.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from iRead Book Tours. I voluntarily chose to read and
post an honest review.
Profile Image for Paula  Phillips.
5,697 reviews342 followers
September 25, 2022
Recently, I reviewed A Prickly Problem which was a very cute book featuring Dr. Pete the Porcupine who wanted to help wherever he could as he was a problem solver. The illustrations and the story were so equally beautiful and so I was looking forward to reading the next book by Cheryl DaVeiga which was Rocket Red. This book was just as equally adorable and beautiful and features a little ant who has big dreams to become a rockstar. The thing though is he is an ant and for their colony to work, he must join the other ants and help with their day-to-day work. Rocket Red just knows he is better than this and destined for great things and one day, Rocket Red and his friends get that chance as they are the entertainment for a group of picnickers. The other thing I loved about this book was that right throughout the whole story, the word "ant" is always written in red font - no matter where it appears in a word e.g antics or ant colony. If you are looking for a fun children's book which encourages your young ones to reach for their dreams and they are aged between 3-6 years old, then Rocket Red by Cheryl DaVeiga and Dave Gibson and illustrated by Remesh Ram is the book for your children.
Profile Image for pawsreadrepeat.
618 reviews32 followers
October 4, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Cheryl DaVeiga and iRead Book Tours. I'm excited to be a part of this tour.

Oh my! Can this series get any cuter? I continue to be impressed with the illustrations and colorful pages contained within this book! The characters are well developed and the premise of Rocket Red and his big dreams about being a rock star set against the backdrop of his mother’s approval is full of positivity. The underlying message is that you can accomplish big things so long as you believe in yourself. The cast of characters added to this story and helps the reader learn how to lean into those who support you while ignoring those who don’t. This is an important life lesson. The fun facts about the ants were a perfect addition to the book.

The accompanying workbook is also a lot of fun and engaging. It offers a mix of coloring, puzzles, and games. I could see this book being a regular part of your young readers because it’s aesthetically pleasing with elements that stick with you. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to let this one go and I look forward to reading more!
1,127 reviews32 followers
October 4, 2022
This is a cute book that children are sure to love. It is about a guitar-playing ant who dreams of becoming a rock star. But as part of a colony, he is needed in their day-to-day work. All legs on deck to transport that whopper of a burger left behind. Then one day just as he is about to be squished by a man, Rocket Red startles him. As a result of this encounter, Rocket Red gets his chance to entertain.

The illustrations are colorful and fun to linger over with your child.

There are links to an interactive website that provides additional fun and learning, including a sing-a-long.

The book offers a variety of learning opportunities. It can teach children about responsibility to the community and supporting and encouraging others. You child can search for all the hidden “ants” in the story – the word “ant” in various words, such as giant, distant, and wanted. At the back of the book are some fun facts about ants.

It also has a companion activity book, purchased separately, loaded with pages to color and a variety of mazes, connect-the-dots, and more.
253 reviews3 followers
October 10, 2022
⭐️BOOK REVIEW⭐️

Out of all the books I received from this author, I figured this would be my niece’s least favorite. Just because the other ones appeared more “cutesy”, however when she first saw them she grabbed this one and I almost didn’t get a photo of it first!😅 So I definitely got to think that says something positive about this cover!

The book had a cool game in it, where the kid was supposed to spot any use of or even secret use of the word “ant”, such as in the word “fANTastic”! I found that to be a good focus keeper and attention grabber for children. The story itself actually is cute too, and seeing all the ants hauling off the giant cheeseburger was funny too!

The activity book too was great. Just like the War at the Ice Cream Store one, this activity book also included coloring and other activity options such as mazes, connect the dots, and other fun prompts! I’m definitely becoming a fan of this author’s children’s books.

My nieces review: “I LOVED it!”

Therefore our combined rating of this children’s book is:

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars
Profile Image for Dawn.
1,571 reviews19 followers
September 23, 2022
I chose to read this book after receiving a free copy from iRead Book Tours. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

This picture book is one of my favorites so far this year. It’s the story of how Red realizes his dream of becoming a rock star. The illustrations are colorful and enhance the story.

Since Red is an ant, every time the word ant shows up in a word, it’s highlighted and there is a little picture of an ant (so cute!) I didn’t realize how many words there are with “ant” in them.

After the story, there is a page with fun facts about ants. And, for children who enjoy coloring, puzzles, and games, there’s an activity book available to go along with it. My grandson is just 3, but he loves to color so we’ll do that and save the games until he’s a little older.
487 reviews20 followers
October 9, 2022
Rocket Red is a little guitar-playing, singing ant who dreams of becoming a big rock star. His mom, the queen ant, disapproves! She believes his job is to work and feed the ant colony. The only one who seems to believe in him is his pal, Beebop Bea.

One day, delayed by practicing with his Lucky Bug Band, Red finds himself all alone and in a dreadful jam. Can his music somehow save him?

Spoiler alert: it DOES! And his music ends up saving the whole ant colony. I simply love books like these that show the underdog getting ahead and watching as the community slowly starts to rally behind him. It always makes me tear up a little…

An emotional Momma aside, this book was so much fun for my little one. She really enjoyed the vibrant illustrations and cute story. The message is one that must be spread far and wide!
435 reviews
October 4, 2022
Red just wants to play his music - but his mom needs him to help move a big tasty burger at a nearby picnic. Just as Red is about to get squished by a big black shoe, he has an idea of how to save himself and live his dream of making music. This is a story of following your passions and working together (and listening to your mom even when you don't want to). Just like in The Prickly Problem (look back to yesterday's post), this book had fun ant facts in the back!

If you want more Rocket Red, there's an accompanying Activity Book as well! This was a Biff Bam Booza book that included a QR code where you can find a singalong song. Thank you so much to iReadBookTours and Cheryl DaVeiga for my copy!
Profile Image for Sandra Lopez.
Author 3 books346 followers
October 9, 2022
This is the admirable tale of a little red ant with a big dream—the dream to be a rock star. But his mother, the queen ant, told him to stop dreaming and get back to Earth.

“Mom, can’t you see how my music feeds my heart and soul?”

“Your music won’t feed the colony,” she scoffed.

The illustrations were so vibrant and colorful, and the words were filled with such witty puns. The scenes were such a joy. I especially liked the one with the big shoe heading the ant’s way. And it certainly was no surprise how the ant’s favorite band was The Beetles.

Could Red’s music be the thing that saves him from a crushing outcome?

A nice story about never giving up on your dream or what makes you happy. It’s a Rockin’ Good Tale!
Profile Image for Melanie.
92 reviews8 followers
October 10, 2022

⭐️Red has big dreams of becoming a legendary rock star! But his family of ants expect him to spend his energy to serve and feed the colony.

I chuckled and “awwww”-ed through this entire story. SO cute and SO sweet, little Rocket Red is a brave little guy who - even in the face of danger, was able to use his smarts- and his MUSIC - to solve a problem.

To me, it’s a story of BIG DREAMS, speaking up for ourselves, and being proud of who you are. It’s about the beauty of working together, supporting one another, and being there for our friends.

My favorite quote: “Mom, can’t you see how music feeds my heart and soul?” 💕💕💕
Profile Image for Dixy's Storytime World Saleh.
38 reviews4 followers
March 10, 2024
I love this book. It follows the adventure of an ant who dreams of rock stardom. With clever puns and vibrant illustrations, it teaches perseverance, friendship, and the power of music. A must-read for young dreamers and music-lovers alike.
Profile Image for Rose Haskins.
835 reviews6 followers
October 18, 2023
Cute

Reminded me of the little ant who thought he could move that rubber tree plant. Cute story and awesome illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews

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