I Have Ants in My Pants - a bookwrap

Unwrapping

I Have Ants in My Pants (National Center for Youth Issues)

Authored by Julia Cook 

Illustrated by Carrie Hartman

* Ages:  4+

* Grade Level:  PS+

* Independent Book Publisher Association (IBPA), Members' Titles
* Pub. Date:  August 27, 2020
* Language: English



Unwrapping Some Fabulous Illustrations for You

The Book

Poor Louis has "wiggilitis" ( yes I just made that name up).  He cannot control his impulses to stay still.  Whatever he is doing, wherever he is the wiggles sneak up on him and he lets loose.  Every time he erupts with enthusiastic bursts an adult tells him he has ants in his pants.  He doesn't quite know what that means but when he inspects his pants closely he sees no sign of ants whatsoever.  

His mother explains to him that having ants in your pants means you wiggle a lot and she explains to him how he might get control of his outbursts.  She teaches him the Wiggle Dance.  Now that sounds like fun and doable right? 

"Wiggle and jiggle.

Jump up and down.

Shake your hands

and turn around.

Take a deep breath.

Scrunch up your nose.

Wobble your knees

and wiggle your toes."

Louis learns when he sits down to make sure he has his own personal space bubble around him which makes perfect sense now that we have to social distance from each other.  She hands him a focus squishy that will keep his fingers busy so he'll be able to pay attention, and finally she encourages him not to talk while others are speaking so he can hear what they have to say.  

"If you can do all of these things, Louis, 

you can be the boss of your ants."

The illustrations are expressive, and kid friendly making the message of the book resonate with kids.  The author has included "Tips for Teaching Kids to Sit Still" at the end of the book for parents, teachers and caregivers.  I highly recommend this book. 

Storywraps Rating - 5 +++ HUGS!

Meet the Author

Julia Cook, M.S. is a national award-winning children's author, counselor, and parenting expert. She has presented in thousands of schools nationally and internationally, regularly speaks at education and counseling conferences, and has published childrens books on a wide range of character and social development topics. The goal behind Cook's work is to actively involve young people in fun, memorable stories and teach them to become lifelong problem solvers. Inspiration for her books comes from working with children and carefully listening to counselors, parents, and teachers, in order to stay on top of needs in the classroom and at home. Cook has the innate ability to enter the worldview of a child through storybooks, giving children both the what to say and the how to say it.

About the Illustrator

Carrie Hartman works as an illustrator, author, designer and lecturer. Her illustration work includes book illustration, editorial work, character designs for a nationally animated commercial, maps, greeting cards, advertising, work with animation studios, comic books, surface design, identity and branding and murals. She has illustrated over 20 picture books. She has authored 1 book and is currently writing several of her own picture books.

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