Critical Issues Books

The Ant Bully

Nickle, J. (1999). The Ant Bully. New York: Scholastic Press.

ISBN: 0590395912

With huge and bright pictures along with small words that catches reader's attention, this book is great for teaching young age children of what bully is about. Nickle illustrates this boy, Lucas that always get make fun of by the neighborhood bully, Sid. His helpless reaction in return picks on ants. As a result, the ants shrink Lucas into their size, so he can learn what the ants do daily to survive. This book is great for children, it teaches them to put themselves in other people's shoes and allow them to realize bullying is not acceptable. Although some words might be a little difficult of younger preschool children (insult, thundered, Lucas's sentences, labour), children can easily understand and figure out these words by looking at the pictures. Older children, 4 and 5 years old will have no problem understanding this book.

Provocation:

• Display a poster with the cover of the book. Have children discuss why this picture is there. Let them engage and listen to their conversations
• Ask the children if they know what bully is, if some of them are not familiar, teacher/ other children can explain to them

Presenting the book:

• Finger puppets: you can draw/ print/ photocopy pictures of Lucas, ants, the queen ant, Sid the bully, Lucas's father, laminate and stick them on a felt finger puppet.
• Stop and wonder at i) when the ants had enough, ask the children "I wonder what the ants are going to do to Lucas? ii) I wonder what the ants make Lucas do when he's guilty? What is Lucas's father going to do with the ants and miniature Lucas? (There are no page numbers in this book)
• Magnet Story: you can draw/ print/ photocopy pictures of Lucas, ants, the queen ant, Sid the bully, Lucas's father and other backgrounds, then stick them on magnet sheets. Use a cookie sheet to tell the story with the characters (magnet sheets can be purchased at the dollar stores or stationary stores)

Extensions:

• Discussion on whether the children have ever experienced bully, have children share their stories.
• Ant field trip: have children out for an ants search, and learn/find tracks of ants.
• Ant research: children can look at some ants Non-fiction books, study and learn more about ants. They can also draw pictures of ants. (Teacher can borrow books from the library)