Description: In Ants Work Together, two young children notice that ants are everywhere. As cousins Kamali and Josiah help the adults prepare for a community picnic, they reflect on all the different jobs ants do--caring for others, cleaning, building, and more. Their own efforts parallel the ants' hard work and collaboration.
Brief description:
Working at the intersection of nature, literature, and culture, Mélina Mangal's writing highlights youth whose voices are rarely heard, and the people and places that inspire them to explore their world. Her books from Free Spirit include Jayden's Impossible Garden, Jayden's Secret Ingredient, and the Outside Our Window Board Books series. She is also the author of short stories and biographies for youth, including The Vast Wonder of the World: Biologist Ernest Everett Just. She won the Carter G. Woodson Book Award and was named an NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People. Mélina also works as a school library teacher in Minnesota and enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, whether it's in her backyard or hiking in the woods.
Review Quotes: "Truly noteworthy series . . . [that] deliberately and effectively emphasizes community and encourages children and their families to explore the natural world around them."-- "Children's Bookwatch, Midwest Book Review"