One Mean Ant with Fly and Flea and Moth by Arthur Yorinks, Sergio Ruzzier
Published by Candlewick Press on October 26, 2021
ISBN: 0763683965
Pages: 48
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
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One Mean Ant with Fly and Flea and Moth is the story of “friends” who don’t seem to like each other, arguing. This is the third book in the series. The titular ant, fly, flea, and moth are prisoners and entertainers in a flea circus. Ant and Flea yell at each other while trying to figure out how to escape. The story is full of griping and misunderstandings.

Illustrator, Sergio Ruzzier, can be divisive. The creepy, 70s-style illustrations might be somewhat fitting for a depiction of bugs, but I wasn’t pleased with some of his artistic choices. The fly and moth, who are portrayed as being less intelligent, are drawn with buck teeth and Exotropia respectively. Overall, I found the illustrations unpleasant.

One line of dialog did make me laugh, but for the most part it wasn’t an enjoyable read. It’s listed as being recommended for ages 3-7, but I suggest this for school age kids only. I think the characters are too mean, with no lessons learned, for a young audience. But I do think elementary kids would laugh at the snarky characters in a read aloud.

Reviewed by Katie Drago, Children’s Librarian, Rockland Public Library, Rockland, ME