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City of Leafcutter Ants: A Sustainable Society of Millions
Tunnel under the rainforest floor into the bustling metropolis of the leafcutter ants, each with a different job to do.
Leafcutter ants are masters at building and running their city. With a population to rival NYC, they employ builders, farmers, nannies, cleaners, and even pharmacists! Brave foragers venture into the trees to bring back slices of leaf to keep the fungus crops growing, while those at home expand the city’s tunnel network and tend to the young—and the queen, the city’s founder.
Whether already fascinated by bugs or just discovering them, young readers will be captivated by Amy Hevron’s colorful, inviting illustrations and accessible language. The City of Leafcutter Ants is both informative and fun, robustly researched and approachable, with backmatter for further learning. In walking us through this sprawling ant society, Hevron reminds us that as different as we may feel from a tiny six-legged insect, humans are neither the only nor the first creatures of Earth to organize ourselves into ingenious collective living.
Leafcutter ants are masters at building and running their city. With a population to rival NYC, they employ builders, farmers, nannies, cleaners, and even pharmacists! Brave foragers venture into the trees to bring back slices of leaf to keep the fungus crops growing, while those at home expand the city’s tunnel network and tend to the young—and the queen, the city’s founder.
Whether already fascinated by bugs or just discovering them, young readers will be captivated by Amy Hevron’s colorful, inviting illustrations and accessible language. The City of Leafcutter Ants is both informative and fun, robustly researched and approachable, with backmatter for further learning. In walking us through this sprawling ant society, Hevron reminds us that as different as we may feel from a tiny six-legged insect, humans are neither the only nor the first creatures of Earth to organize ourselves into ingenious collective living.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published June 25, 2024
About the author
Amy Hevron
13 books12 followersAuthor-illustrator Amy Hevron lives in Seattle, Washington. She draws inspiration from wildlife, nature, and travel. Amy is a two-time winner of the Portfolio Honor Award from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 23, 2024
Clearly, as this well-written, accessible picture book [3.5 for me!] shows, humans can learn a lot from the example of leafcutter ants. The text and illustrations introduce readers to their bustling cities beneath the rainforest canopy in Central America. With 8 million leafcutters assigned to various roles, including haulers, soldiers, caretakers, waste managers, they play an important role in the health of the rainforest, and can strip a tree of its leaves within 24 hours. Readers will be sure to note the similarities between leafcutters and humans and the advantages of communities. The striking illustrations, created with acrylic paint on wood and digitally collaged, rely on various shades of greens and large views of the leafcutters as well as their tunnels and underground highways to provide readers a glimpse of this unique species. Additional information in the back matter expands on the text, providing facts about leafcutters' lifespan and their caste system. This is a good addition to an elementary science library.
July 12, 2024
Fascinating! Beautifully done from a graphics point of view. Detailed as all get out. And uses ants as a model for us to emulate. Ms. Hebron writes thrilling books about nature and this one seems like the best yet! She started research as a result of a vacation visit to Costa Rica - and we are the beneficiaries of that trip. Brava! RUN out and buy this for the kids you know.
Amy Hevron won a Blueberry Award for The Longest Journey: An Arctic Tern's Migration and this book is under consideration for a 2024 Blueberry Award, too!
Amy Hevron won a Blueberry Award for The Longest Journey: An Arctic Tern's Migration and this book is under consideration for a 2024 Blueberry Award, too!
August 7, 2024
Beautifully told story of leaf cutter ants and their remarkable, complex system of survival. The progression through a lot of information unfolds in clear and absorbing detail in both text and illustration by the author. Terrific back matter adds to the reader's knowledge and the excellent bibliography offers further opportunities for exploration. Fantastic addition to a classroom or school library and sure to be treasured at home.
July 31, 2024
If you've ever watched leafcutter ants, you have wondered about their society . This book has brilliant illustrations to show what is happening inside their cities underneath the rainforest. It talks at a low level (1-3rd) about all the jobs in the colony. It gives kids more info at the back and additional reading if they are interested.
October 5, 2024
3 stars (I liked it)
This was an interesting look at Leafcutter Ants. The author definitely leans into some anthropomorphizing as the group of ants are described as a city and different ants are names by their jobs. While I found the information to be really interesting, I do think it's written a bit too complication for a picture book audience.
This was an interesting look at Leafcutter Ants. The author definitely leans into some anthropomorphizing as the group of ants are described as a city and different ants are names by their jobs. While I found the information to be really interesting, I do think it's written a bit too complication for a picture book audience.
June 25, 2024
EARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
This is a fascinating look at a lesser-known animal. It is a great choice to update any library’s anumal collection.
This is a fascinating look at a lesser-known animal. It is a great choice to update any library’s anumal collection.
July 3, 2024
Nature is so cool. 😄♥️
July 12, 2024
Loved this picture book about the complexity of leafcutter ant colonies in the rain forest!
September 10, 2024
ARC from Edelweiss.
August 17, 2024
Strong science content for young readers about the fascinating organization and specialization of the earth's oldest known farmers. The Central American rainforest and the complex, bustling society of leafcutter ants are recreated in digitally collaged, hand-painted vibrant green, rusty red and brown cut-paper shapes. Readers follow the city’s development above and below ground, from its founding by a single young queen to a population of eight million and the departure of a new young queen. Specific and sophisticated vocabulary personalizes the insects, explores their jobs, and references their important role in the larger ecosystem. While the emphasis is on specialization and cooperation, plenty of intriguing facts and some dramatic action enliven the story. An excellent choice for a science-based read aloud. Back matter includes additional facts, expanded job descriptions, selected bibliography, additional reading and a note from the author.
August 14, 2024
A straightforward explanation of how leaf cutter ants sustain and protect their society of millions - each with a job and task to work tirelessly each day. Very informative and would be an excellent addition to any insect or entomology curriculum!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews