The Grasshopper & the Ants, by Jerry Pinkney, is a 2015 adaptation of the classic Aesop fable where a grasshopper relaxes through Spring, Summer, and Autumn, while a colony of ants work at gathering food for the Winter, but although initially refusing the grasshopper's request for help, they relent and invite him in to share.
 First edition | |
| Author | Jerry Pinkney |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Jerry Pinkney |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature, picture book, American poetry |
| Published | 2015 (Little, Brown and Company) |
| Media type | Print (hardback) |
| ISBN | 9780316400817 |
| OCLC | 862928754 |
Reception edit
Booklist, in a review of The Grasshopper & the Ants, wrote "Another winner to follow his other renditions of Aesop's fables .. Pinkney's lush style and Aesop's timeless fables are an award-winning combination.".[1] and School Library Journal found it "A lively and engaging version of a favorite Aesop fable."[1]
Common Sense Media wrote "Though the washy watercolor and busy spreads of ants sometimes make it difficult to discern the finer details, a close reading yields benefits" and highlighted the story's message that "Art and entertainment are important, as is the sharing of bounty."[2]
The Grasshopper & the Ants has also been reviewed by The Horn Book Magazine,[3] Publishers Weekly,[4] School Library Connection,[1] and Kirkus Reviews.[5]
Awards edit
- 2015 Best Illustrated Children's Books[6]
- 2015 Parents' Choice Picture Books Award - Gold Award[7]
- 2016 ALA Notable Children's Book - Younger Readers[8]
- 2016 Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year[9]
References edit
- ^ a b c "The Grasshopper & the Ants: Reviews". catalog.wccls.org. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
- ^ "The Grasshopper and the Ants". www.commonsensemedia.org. Common Sense Media Inc. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
- ^ "The Grasshopper & the Ants". kcls.bibliocommons.com. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
Pinkney transforms Aesop's harsh fable about the consequences of improvidence into one celebrating the value of the arts.
- ^ "The Grasshopper & the Ants (starred review)". Publishers Weekly. PWxyz LLC. February 2, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
The world needs good planners, but it needs artists, too.
- ^ "The Grasshopper & the Ants (starred review)". Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Media LLC. February 2, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
From an unparalleled artist, another brilliant work.
- ^ "Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2015: The Grasshopper & the Ants". about.com. InterActiveCorp. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
- ^ "The Grasshopper & the Ants". parents-choice.org. Parents' Choice Foundation. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
- ^ "Notable Children's Books - 2016". ala.org. American Library Association. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
- ^ The Best Children's Books of the Year [2016 edition]. Bank Street College of Education. 2015. p. 31. Retrieved January 23, 2017.