Ursula Dubosarsky (text) and Tohby Riddle (illustrator), The March of the Ants, Book Trail Press, March 2021, 24 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9780648498919
An army of ants sets out on a journey. Each one tells the others what they are going to bring. Most of them nominate ‘useful’ things like maps and tools. The littlest ant, on the other hand, says she is bringing her book. On the long, long journey when some of the ants are in despair wondering if they are ever going to get to their destination, it is the littlest ant who reinvigorates and re-motivates them all. She reads the book to them, and they all set out happily again the next day. The littlest ant proves to be the wisest of them all.
Every parent who has heard the phrase ‘are we there yet?’ will identify with this book. There comes a point in most car trips, for example, when spirits are flagging and telling a story can help. This is a delightful story from Ursula Dubosarsky, enhanced by Tobhy Riddle’s illustrations. The Chief Ant’s puzzlement at the idea of bringing a book is clear and just as clear is his dismay when the littlest ant finishes reading her book to all the ants. There is plenty of movement and colour; double page spreads where the eye follows the ants marching along and the illustrations also convey the ingenuity of the ants in solving various problems they encounter along the way. Towards the end, a double page spread shows the fear and worry of the ants as various dangers loom over them, but this is resolved with the illustration of all the ants sitting enthralled by the littlest ant’s reading.
The front end papers, in earthy colours, have a trail of ants running across them leading us to the title page that features a small ant clutching a precious book to her chest. The final endpapers continue with the line of ants, continuing their journey and, who knows, perhaps hearing another story!
This picture book is a wonderful celebration of books and stories.
Reviewed by Margot Hillel
