The story was really great and I really enjoyed the fable and lesson in sharing and caring for your neighbors, but the illustrations were a little creepy. They were beautifully done, but the faces kind of creeped me out.

The illustrations in this book were so very pretty and had such inviting colors.

This is a sweet children's book reminding us that our contributions to others are important, no matter how silly or small they may appear to others and that we should cherish the uniqueness in all of us.
I only gave it four stars as I do feel the message could have been conveyed more clearly.

***I recieved a complimentary copy of this book via the publisher and Netgalley, all views and opinions expressed are my own.***

A charming retelling of The Ant and the Grasshopper. Alice the ant is busy gathering seeds to store for winter, while her friend Gert the grasshopper tries to convince her to take a break and have some fun. Alice plugs away while Gert tries to entertain her friend- Gert writes a song about Alice and sings it to her, She performs a play about a pirate for Alice, she does a dance to celebrate the first falling red leaf. While Alice warns Gert continuously that winter is coming and Gert should prepare, she can't help enjoying Gert's antics and attempts to get her to have fun. When winter arrives and Gert realizes she should have done as Alice said, Alice scolds her a bit, then lets Gert know there's enough stored food for them both, and offers to share it in repayment for lightening the work Alice did with her shenanigans. The end shows Alice and Gert relaxing in Alice's home, singing and enjoying themselves. It's a sweet story of friendship, and the soft, beautiful illustrations add so much nuance and detail to the story. Overall, just a lovely book!

#AliceandGert #NetGalley

I will admit I enjoyed the illustrations much more than the story... the first time I read it. This was due to the illustrations being muted pencil lines that remind me of overcast days that warm my heart. I also thought I was reading just another retelling of a story I have heard before. As I read I was reminded of the fable we all know of the ants and the grasshopper. The original told the story of the ants working hard and the grasshopper "wasting time." Which in turn led the grasshopper to have nothing to eat during the hard winter. The next version I am sure you read the ants/ant share with the grasshopper and the grasshopper learns to do better next year. Alice and Gert once again bring you a different version if not the best version. Alice honors Gert's creativity and joy that made her workdays easier. Alice doesn't share with Gert because it is the right thing to do. Alice acknowledges that Gert's singing and poetry was a contribution. Arts are not less than other forms of work. Children ages 5 and up.

I requested and received an e-ARC of this book from Helaine Becker and Owlkids Books through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a sweet story about an ant and a grasshopper that have completely different styles of living but still manage to be friends and support each other. I love the illustrations in this book the colours are muted but each picture is full of detail and wonder.

A very charming rendition of the classic Ant and the Grasshopper story. The imagery was beautifully hand drawn and showcased a very natural setting. My favorite scenes being the pirate hat gift and song that Gert created for Alice.

This is definitely a children's book with more advanced words, so kids may struggle to read it on their own or understand what is being said at times. It may be helpful to have a glossary in the back showcasing those words and their meanings.

The underlying message about friendship and choosing when to work or play was done well, and there are many opportunities for parents to discuss these messages with kids. Overall, I would definitely recommend this children's book!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this opportunity!

Art is soft and sketchy in a way that isn't a favorite style of mine, but it undeniably pleasant.

Simple underlying story of one friend who wants to prepare for the future while the other just wants to enjoy the present, but jazzed up with fun, unique details. I'm all for introducing slightly advanced vocab in picture books, but there were a couple words even I struggled with..

Definitely things you can discuss with kids as you read, but didn't have any particularly special/fun parts that caught my attention.

3.5

I received an electronic ARC from OwlKids Books through NetGalley.
Charming retelling of The Ant and the Grasshopper with updated language. The illustrations are rich with details that capture the forest setting and the characters' expressions. Gert entertains Alice all summer as Alice works. Gert writes songs and plays and performs them to lure Alice into playing as well. Alice keeps working but shows her worry for her friend through the season changes.
Tender moments of friendship.
Read aloud that will lead to discussion on how to prepare for the future and celebrate the now. Readers can also think about how they interact in community.

This is a lovely variation on "The Ant and the Grasshopper" type of tale. Here Alice, the ant and Gert, the Grasshopper, are good friends. The story proceeds as expected with Alice working hard to put food away while Gert sings and dances and even invites her friend to take part in a pirate melodrama! The illustrations are delightful, featuring what might be considered a somber palette, but one that inspires the imagination. The different things Gert does are charming and Alice is presented as both concerned for her friend but also grateful. It is in the end where this book offers a lovely twist, a call for arts funding if ever there was one. Alice shares her stores with Gert because Gert's songs and dances and plays helped ease the strain of working.

ARC received via NetGalley

Would work well in a classroom comparing fables. I felt like it would have been stronger if the grasshopper had been portrayed as working hard on their art and thus not collecting seeds rather than being irresponsible.

Alice the Ant and Gert the Grasshopper. Alice is focusing on getting ready for the upcoming winter but Gert is busy relaxing knowing that winter is no where near here yet. Alice try’s to warm Gert but Gert thinks Alice should have more fun. But when winter comes Gert isn’t having a good time but luckily Alice is willing to help out.
Good story with nice illustrations. Fun to read while also learning a few lessons.
Thank you to Netgalley and Owlkids Books for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Alice and Gert is a new take on the classic story of the grasshopper and the ant. Alice the ant works daily to prepare for winter. Gert the grasshopper watches Alice and actively tries to get Alice to stop to rest or play. Gert enjoys the moment and Alice prepares for the future. When winter comes, Gert is not prepared. Instead of gloating, Alice acknowledges that Gert made the work more enjoyable and shares the provisions.

The story is cute and the illustrations are beautiful. This story is an example of how friends can be different and still get along.

Thank you to OwlKids and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This new envisioning of the Aesop fable the Ant and the Grasshopper has a wonderful ending. A thought-provoking read brought to my mind questions of balance between work and play, art as work, fun and duty, and preparedness in the face of changing seasons of life.

Keep your eyes peeled for this gorgeous late summer release as you will want to have it in your personal collection. Alice and Gert by Helaine Becker and Dena Seiferling is a retelling of The Ant and the Grasshopper tale and it is beautiful.

Many of us are familiar with the tale, ant works all summer long while grasshopper plays and then grasshopper does not have enough food to last the winter proving that hard work pays off. I really appreciate Helaine Becker’s take on the story especially given the world in which we find ourselves. Either in the midst of or post covid, there is a strong message about the power and the necessity of the arts. In this retelling ant still works and grasshopper still plays but grasshopper’s singing, dancing and acting helps make ant’s work feel easier and lighter. Grasshopper helps ant and in turn ant helps grasshopper.

I’m a sucker for a good friendship story and this one has all the pieces that will make it a treasure story, one with a place of honour on the shelf and one that will be shared for many year’s to come.

Dena Seiferling’s illustrations are some of the most magical I have seen in a long time. They have a dreamy quality making this book feel timeless. The soft earthy colour palette reflects the setting, being low to the ground with the insects. A wonderful contribution to the world of fairy tales and one that has not been rewritten time and time again. We truly loved Alice and Gert

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a retelling of the ant and the grasshopper. The illustrations were very beautiful and eye catching. The text flowed well and wasn't too overwhelming for small listeners. I like the updated changes to the story. I think kids will enjoy it and parents too.

This was a nice retelling of The Ant and the Grasshopper with just enough twist to make it a sweet fractured version of the story, with the story ending with a lesson learned, but also a friendship found. The grasshopper still neglects his work, but in this version of the story, the ant comes to appreciate the grasshopper's efforts to get him to enjoy the splendors of summer as well. The illustrations are nicely done and give the whole book a warm, rustic feel that is entirely welcome. Nicely done book on the whole, and a nice addition to an elementary folklore section.

This was a cute take on The Ant and The Grasshopper. I did like that both the ant and the grasshopper were given names. The illustrations were beautiful. The moral of the story was changed, and I'm not completely opposed to that.

This is an similar to the Aesop fable I grew up on where the moral was: "There's a time for work and a time for play." The exception is this adds giving back to others. Instead of letting the grasshopper fend for itself, the ant sees the value in the gift of music and entertainment that it had from the music made by the grasshopper and shared the food.
It is beautifully illustrated with muted tones which I just loved. Great book for any collection library or personal.

4 stars for the illustrations
2 stars for the story

A beautifully illustrated children’s book, with softly coloured illustrations that appealed to me, but with a story that was, for me, somewhat of a mixed message.

An ant and a grasshopper, the ant busily preparing for the coming winter, the grasshopper lazily passing the days, and chiding the ant for working so hard instead of relaxing, or playing while the weather remains so nice. And then autumn arrives, and the days begin to cool, but the grasshopper still lazily munches on the leaves, and never bothers to prepare for the coming winter. And then one morning, the frost is covering all, and it is too late for the grasshopper to begin gathering food for the winter. There is a surprise ending for the grasshopper, which is where the mixed message comes into play for me.



Pub Date: 19 May 2020


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Random House Children’s / Crown Books for Young Readers

A beautifully illustrated take on a classic tale. Alice and Gert add a refreshing new addition to the Grasshopper and the Ant fable.