The Secret World of Ants: An Exploration of an Underground Insect Species

Ages 4 to 8, Grades P to 2

Visit the secret world of ants in this fully illustrated exploration of one of the most hardworking insect species!

You probably already know that ants build large ant hills connected by tunnel systems below ground. And you know that ants are so strong that they can lift up to fifty times their own weight—that’s like a human carrying a full-grown cow!

But did you know that some ant species are feared bloodthirsty warriors, others are head-hunters, and yet other ones are skilled leaf cutters, weavers, or aphid keepers? And there are also others that love raiding the nests of enemy ants and stealing anything they find there.

The ant world doesn’t seem so different compared to the human world, does it?

Let’s take a closer look to see how ant species are different (from each other and from us!) and how we can actually relate to these tiny but diligent creatures.

About the Author

Štepánka Sekaninová spent her childhood near Kolín, in the Polabí lowlands region. Although she is a Bohemian at heart, fate carried her to the heart of Moravia. She is a graduate in Czech and History from the Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University. While still a student, she started work at Czech Television in Brno, where as a reporter she travelled about the South Moravia region and got to know every part of it. She later switched from reporting to the production of light entertainment and children’s programs for the Brno studio. Štepánka loves books and has always longed to write, so when her life’s journey presented her with the opportunity to work as a literary editor for Albatros Media, she accepted it with alacrity.

Zuzana Dreadka Krutá is a freelance illustrator, artist, and designer who originates from Slovakia. She has a studio in a small French town near Lyon called Ambérieu-en-Bugey, where she makes textile toys, paints pictures, and creates illustrations for children’s books and magazines. Her artistic expression is playful, witty, and entertaining in its variety. In addition to being creative, she likes to spend time with her family and dog, listening to music, and getting to know new places, people, tastes, and all forms of culture.