I love all things small, crawly, and bug-like.It has beenan absolute blast working on a book all about ants!

Author and educator Neil Rosen is passionate about the transformative power of books on children and their families. He writes books that unite families and empower parents, caregivers, and children to impact their community positively. Neil's latest project, Can You Read Nature? encourages families to spend more intentional time outdoors to nurture future generations of environmental stewards.

Age-Appropriate Learning Guide

Ages 6–7:

Young readers will delight in the rhyming verses and vivid imagery that bring the underground world of ants to life. They’ll be introduced to basic ant behaviors—digging tunnels, carrying food, working in teams—and fun facts like ants lifting heavy loads or forming rafts during floods. With simple sentences and predictable rhythms, this level builds early reading fluency while sparking curiosity about nature.

Ages 7–9:

This age group can dive deeper into the structure of ant colonies, learning about the different roles of queen, worker, nurse, and soldier ants. The “Did You Know?” sections offer expanded science vocabulary (e.g., “air conditioning systems,” “chemical signals,” “ecosystem health”) while remaining accessible. Readers begin to explore cause and effect—how ants adapt to floods, temperature changes, and shifting climates—and how their actions benefit soil, plants, and animals.

Ages 9–10:

Older elementary readers can fully engage with the ecological and scientific significance of ant colonies. The book introduces themes like climate change adaptation, pollination, soil aeration, and bio-inspired architecture—concepts that lend themselves to further discussion and classroom connections. While the book doesn’t reach full middle-grade complexity (i.e., sustained multi-paragraph analysis or technical detail), it provides a strong bridge to scientific thinking and systems-level understanding of ecosystems.