Julia Cook pens another winner with I Have Ants in My Pants! I adore Julia’s books and this one is another gem added to our collection. We meet sweet Louis again and he just can’t stop being so squirrel-y. He can’t help it. Readers watch as Louis struggles with everyday moments and learns some strategies to help tame the busy ants in his pants.
This book came out at the perfect time as we start a new school year – whatever that looks like for kiddos by you. The strategies Julia shares can be applied by students who are always on the move or for anyone who needs just a extra something when their body needs to be still.
What I really love about Julia Cook books is that they introduce some normalcy to what kids see at school, home or at play dates. The sooner my kids see behaviors that are different than theirs and can understand the why behind those actions, the sooner they can develop empathy. Different isn’t bad. It’s just different. And we can learn from that.
I had a sneaking suspicion that Blue had an attention disorder beginning in first grade. He went through neurocognitive testing and was identified as having ADHD (among other things). While I was reading everything I could about ADHD, I asked our school social worker for any book suggestions to help us at home. She suggested Julia Cook books and I immediately grabbed My Mouth Is a Volcano and Lying Up a Storm. Readers, she gets my kid. And the more I explored her other books, she seemed to get my oldest as well. Maybe you don’t have a non-stop mover like me and this book doesn’t speak to you in this chapter. I anticipate you’ll find other Julia Cook books that might fit for your behaviors at home.
Words cannot go in while others come out. Because your brain doesn’t work that way.
I Have Ants in My Pants, Julia Cook
Amen to this. So applicable to every day life!
The very best thing about her books? There’s no shame in Louis having these sometimes not-so-awesome behaviors. There’s modeling and redirecting and strategies and patience. That is something I work on every day, and these books sure help me with that.