This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
S.M.R. Saia is a mother, gardener, author, and entrepreneur, whose professional experience in the book world includes owning a corporate book fair business and freelancing as a self-publishing coach. She has a B.A. in English from the University of Maryland, and an M.A. in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland. For the past several years she has worked developing Common Core aligned Language Arts Worksheets for K – 12, using creative strategies to present, teach, and provide students with an opportunity to practice grade-appropriate Language Arts concepts and skills.
Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite
Little Ant and the Cricket: Moral: You Can't Please Everyone by S.M.R. Saia is an endearing storybook for children with a good message. Little Ant is the busiest of ants and he is strong, smart, and quick. He is admired by everyone and he replies by saying, ‘I am just an Ant!’ One day, on his way back home with a blueberry, he meets a cricket. He expects the cricket to comment about his superior strength, but no comments come. The cricket says he is on a way to a party, but ants are not allowed as they do not know how to have fun. Little Ant is annoyed by the comment and hopes he can meet the cricket again and ... Little Ant runs into the cricket again! This time, will the cricket take Little Ant with him to the party where he is going? What is the lesson Little Ant learns after partying with the cricket and his friends?
The message in the storybook makes it an uplifting and encouraging read for children and it motivates them to accept themselves and be their own self instead of trying to ape others. The illustrations are bright and lively and they give the story a good pace and movement and bring the characters alive for readers. This story is perfect for read aloud sessions in classrooms because of the message and parents can use it for bedtime storytelling too, especially if they have kids who are unhappy with themselves and are trying to become something they are not. The topic is relevant and the author executes it beautifully through the story of the Little Ant who finally learns to act like an Ant!
