Little Ant and the Mantis: Count Your Blessings

By S M R Saia

Little Ant is having the worst day ever. Then he meets a praying mantis who is able to remain happy, even in the most difficult of circumstances. Will Little Ant learn his secret?

This is an original story, inspired by Aesop's "The Hares and the Frogs," which teaches that there is always someone worse off than yourself. Little Ant's story avoids comparing oneself to others, and focuses instead on recognizing and appreciating the good things in one's life. The moral: count your blessings.

Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

Little Ant and the Mantis aligns with the following SEL themes: identifying feelings, self regulation (calming down), social awareness/relationship skills, problem solving, understanding the consequences of actions, and respect for self and others. Parents and educators, visit shelfspacebooks.com to download free companion resources for this book including lesson plans, worksheets, and coloring pages.

About the Series

The Little Ant Books are reimaginings of Aesop's classic fables, teaching timeless lessons like "appearances can be deceiving" and "one good turn deserves another." Brought to life by Tina Perko's vibrant and whimsical illustrations, the stories follow the bold and sometimes bossy Little Ant as he learns to manage and express his big feelings in a healthy and appropriate way. Little Ant's adventures provide him with opportunities to build character and learn valuable lessons about friendship, kindness, empathy, teamwork, courage, and the importance of being yourself.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1945713569
• ISBN13: 9781945713569
• Release Date: September 2023
• Publisher: Shelf Space Books
• Length: 44 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.5" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 3 to 5 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 2