Challenge Artwork Judged

Oh, what a night!

A fine group of educators, parents and children's book authors gathered at the home of author, Phillip Hoose to judge the artwork entries by Kindergarten thru 3rd Graders to the Hey, Little Ant Essay Challenge. There was much concentration, debate, and laughter as the amazing submissions were reviewed.

Meanwhile across the country, 17 additional judges are reviewing the writing samples submitted online by kids in Grades K-3.

Results will be announced on May 21, 2008!

More Photos
Photos by Mark Mattos

Challenge Hits Mid Atlantic Press

An ant article ran in seven affiliated newspapers in Maryland and Delaware with grand quotes from ANTvisory Board member, Patty Dean, director of Early Childhood Education at Salisbury University.

"The book just capitalizes on so many things," said Patty Dean, director of Early Childhood Education at Salisbury University. "There's the science aspect: Why do we have so many insects and what would happen if none of them got killed? There's the social justice perspective: What is the point of killing a living creature? There's a part in the book where the boy's friends urge him to kill the ant, so we talk about making decisions for yourself, and your own conscience."

Full Article

Ant On the Wall

Phil Hoose had the pleasure of viewing the wise responses to the Hey, Little Ant Essay Challenge from students at Princess Anne Elementary School in Princess Anne, MD. Rumor has it that he got in a bit of singing as well.

Just one week left of the Challenge and over 700 (brilliant) entries so far. Keep them coming, kids!

Challenge Taken in Maine

Some fabulous facts about ants from this essay challenge entrant from Phil & Hannah's home state of Maine:

"Dear kid, Please don't kill the ant! They just have 45-60 days to live! They only take crumbs, and why would you need any crumbs? Ants just need food to feed their colony. Exactly, like you need food for your family to be strong and healthy. The ant that you are about to step on might be the strongest in the colony and others may be counting on him to bring them food. Ants need food to survive!

Think about it, kid, if all of the ants in the world died, what would we do without them? Ants recycle the crumbs we don't use, so they are helpful! Also, if you died, what would we do without you? Your mother and father would cry like there was no tomorrow, they would die. They love you. Ants love the ant that you are about to step on too. P.S. BE NICER TO ANTS!!"

Hurray for the PS!

Ant on Public Radio

Author, Phil Hoose and educator & long-time Hey, Little Ant advocate, Rita Rubin Long appeared on Maine Public Radio to discuss the history of the book and The Hey, Little Ant Essay Challenge.

Listen Here!

Challenge Taken in Georgia

From a 2nd Grader in the beautiful South:

"The boy should not sqishe the ant. If they switced the boy would not like to get killed. The boy is killing nature. ants are a part of nature. The ant's would not like it. Let the ant live."

Challenge Taken in Washington St.

All of these amazing thoughts keep coming in from kids across the country. This from a second grader in Washington--

"I think the kid should let it free because I care for the environment and when I grow up I will be a scientist and I will stop people from cutting down trees. I care for ants because they are part of the environment and without the environment we could not survive."