Little Ant thinks that he is the best insect in the world. When he meets the slow caterpillar he is not impressed, and tells her so. But has Little Ant judged her too soon? This story is a reimagining of Aesop's classic fable, "The Ant and the Chrysalis," and teaches that appearances can be deceiving. Little Ant and the Butterfly aligns with the following Social Emotional Learning (SEL) themes: identifying feelings, self-regulation (calming down), kindness and empathy, social awareness/relationship skills, understanding the consequences of actions, and respect. About the Series The Little Ant Books are reimaginings of Aesop's classic fables, teaching timeless lessons like "appearances can be deceiving" and "one good turn deserves another." Brought to life by Tina Perko's vibrant and whimsical illustrations, they follow Little Ant as he navigates through the challenges and frustrations of growing up. Little Ant's adventures provide him with opportunities to build character and learn valuable lessons about friendship , kindness , empathy , teamwork , courage , and the importance of being yourself . I've been reading this series to my grandchildren since discovering them about a year ago and we are always excited when a new one is released...The beautiful illustrations that we find in each book add understanding and interest to the lesson being taught. I cannot praise this author enough as it is not very often that you read a children's book and say WOW! ~ Sweet Southern Savings I loved the modern take on a classic and timeless lesson about not being judgmental and showing respect to others...the story is entertaining yet concise, much like the original. The illustrations are minimalist, but very expressive, and define the characters' emotions well...Baby Bookworm approved! ~ The Baby Bookworm Endearing little book. ~ Story Time Pals, YouTube The beautiful illustrations are the perfect compliment to the thoughtfully told stories...the author and illustrator create a fanciful world in which Little Ant encounters situations that allow him to grow in ways he never imagined. The Little Ant books are a must-have series. ~ Red Headed Patti, Online Magazine for Families A creative reframing of a fable of Aesop, with fresh, bright illustrations filled with energy and feeling...delivers its lesson in tolerance of differences and harmonious cooperation in the wise spirit originally intended, with a delightful new presentation. "Little Ant and the Butterfly" is full of fresh appeal for young readers still engaged in the lasting wisdom of the fables' morality. ~ Midwest Book Review My favorite thing about Little Ant is that he doesn't always manage to be his very best self; but he's a good ant at heart, and he learns from his mistakes. As someone who shares many of Little Ant's flaws, I find this very reassuring! Getting Little Ant's first story into print initially seemed like a daunting task. But Tina's amazing artwork gave me the confidence to keep going. She perfectly captures Little Ant's character and has brought him, his insect friends, and his whole world to life. My favorite books have always been those that give me a place to be ― another world that I can visit from time to time ― and Tina's artwork creates just such a world for me. I hope you and your young readers will come visit us there! S.M.R. Saia Little Ant thinks that he is the best insect in the world. When he meets the slow caterpillar he is not impressed, and tells her so. But has Little Ant judged her too soon? S.M.R. Saia is a mother, gardener, author, and entrepreneur, whose love of insects began in her own backyard vegetable garden. Her professional experience in the book world includes owning a corporate book fair business and freelancing as a self-publishing coach. She has a B.A. in English from the University of Maryland, and an M.A. in Liberal Arts from St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland. For the past several years she has worked developing Common Core aligned Language Arts Worksheets for K - 12, using creative strategies to present, teach, and provide students with an opportunity to practice grade-appropriate Language Arts concepts and skills. Her latest project involves Little Ant, a stuck-up and sometimes hastyinsect with a tendency to learn things the hard way.