06/27/2016
Rice takes a more playful tack than he did in 2014’s The Stick in this story about an uncle with literal ants in his pants, which send him on an around-the-world dance-a-thon. The man’s niece, a girl with twin braids and a plaid dress, narrates his journey, which Rice captures in swoopy, cut-paper silhouettes that caricature the man’s features, especially his oversize, ever-moving feet. As the girl’s uncle travels, “He two-stepped through Texas/ Merengued through Mexico/ As he cancanned through Costa Rica/ He really put on a show.” Postcards and scenes framed to look like vintage travel posters bring a cosmopolitan air to the pages as Rice highlights the Eiffel Tower, Egyptian pyramids, and other landmarks. A repeated refrain (“Ants ’n’ uncles, uncles ’n’ ants,/ dancin’ the world with ants in his pants./ Goin’ where he’s never been before/ on his un-ant-ticipated world tour”) gives the rhymes a musicality that reflects the author’s songwriting background. Though the closing joke fizzles (“If you see my uncle, tell him... he’s three months late for summer”), there’s enough silliness throughout to keep readers entertained. Ages 3–6. (Sept.)
"Silhouette artist Rice offers another imaginative tale using his intricate cut-paper designs.The creator of Mama, Let's Make a Moon (2013) invites children to 'dance like there are ants in your pants' in a rollicking tall tale. The narrator, a barefoot child with braided pigtails that sometimes stand on end in surprise, uses rhythm and rhyme to tell the story of an uncle who discovers a talent for dancing after stepping in a bed of ants. Playful language sets the scene: 'Ants 'n' uncles, uncles 'n' ants / dancin' the world with ants in his pants. / Goin' where he's / never been before on / his un-ant-ticipated / world tour.' The lively, poster-style illustrations accompany the uncle as he limbos, pirouettes, moonwalks, and tangos to fame through the world's big cities, sending home postcards as he goes. Vivid colors pop off the pages as Uncle Bob goes from dancing in a spotlight to balancing atop the Eiffel Tower, with dancing ants alongside him. (Picture book. 4-7)." —Kirkus Reviews
"Rice takes a more playful tack than he did in 2014’s The Stick in this story about an uncle with literal ants in his pants, which send him on an around-the-world dance-a-thon. The man’s niece, a girl with twin braids and a plaid dress, narrates his journey, which Rice captures in swoopy, cut-paper silhouettes that caricature the man’s features, especially his oversize, ever-moving feet. As the girl’s uncle travels, 'He two-stepped through Texas/ Merengued through Mexico/ As he cancanned through Costa Rica/ He really put on a show.' Postcards and scenes framed to look like vintage travel posters bring a cosmopolitan air to the pages as Rice highlights the Eiffel Tower, Egyptian pyramids, and other landmarks. A repeated refrain ('Ants ’n’ uncles, uncles ’n’ ants,/ dancin’ the world with ants in his pants./ Goin’ where he’s never been before/ on his un-ant-ticipated world tour') gives the rhymes a musicality that reflects the author’s songwriting background. Though the closing joke fizzles (“If you see my uncle, tell him . . . he’s three months late for summer'), there’s enough silliness throughout to keep readers entertained. Ages 3–6." —Publishers Weekly
"This book tells a story much bigger than that of some ants and a dancing uncle. It is a story about the unexpected opportunities in life, the power of family, and the importance of remembering where you come from." —Moutrie News
Silhouette artist Rice offers another imaginative tale using his intricate cut-paper designs.The creator of Mama, Let's Make a Moon (2013) invites children to "dance like there are ants in your pants" in a rollicking tall tale. The narrator, a barefoot child with braided pigtails that sometimes stand on end in surprise, uses rhythm and rhyme to tell the story of an uncle who discovers a talent for dancing after stepping in a bed of ants. Playful language sets the scene: "Ants 'n' uncles, uncles 'n' ants / dancin' the world with ants in his pants. / Goin' where he's / never been before on / his un-ant-ticipated / world tour." The lively, poster-style illustrations accompany the uncle as he limbos, pirouettes, moonwalks, and tangos to fame through the world's big cities, sending home postcards as he goes. Vivid colors pop off the pages as Uncle Bob goes from dancing in a spotlight to balancing atop the Eiffel Tower, with dancing ants alongside him.(Picture book. 4-7)
—Kirkus Reviews
Rice takes a more playful tack than he did in 2014’sThe Stickin this story about an uncle with literal ants in his pants, which send him on an around-the-world dance-a-thon. The man’s niece, a girl with twin braids and a plaid dress, narrates his journey, which Rice captures in swoopy, cut-paper silhouettes that caricature the man’s features, especially his oversize, ever-moving feet. As the girl’s uncle travels, “He two-stepped through Texas/ Merengued through Mexico/ As he cancanned through Costa Rica/ He really put on a show.” Postcards and scenes framed to look like vintage travel posters bring a cosmopolitan air to the pages as Rice highlights the Eiffel Tower, Egyptian pyramids, and other landmarks. A repeated refrain (“Ants ’n’ uncles, uncles ’n’ ants,/ dancin’ the world with ants in his pants./ Goin’ where he’s never been before/ on his un-ant-ticipated world tour”) gives the rhymes a musicality that reflects the author’s songwriting background. Though the closing joke fizzles (“If you see my uncle, tell him... he’s three months late for summer”), there’s enough silliness throughout to keep readers entertained. Ages 3–6.
—Publishers Weekly
This book tells a story much bigger than that of some ants and a dancing uncle. It is a story about the unexpected opportunities in life, the power of family, and the importance of remembering where you come from.
—Moutrie News
2016-07-02
Silhouette artist Rice offers another imaginative tale using his intricate cut-paper designs.The creator of Mama, Let’s Make a Moon (2013) invites children to “dance like there are ants in your pants” in a rollicking tall tale. The narrator, a barefoot child with braided pigtails that sometimes stand on end in surprise, uses rhythm and rhyme to tell the story of an uncle who discovers a talent for dancing after stepping in a bed of ants. Playful language sets the scene: “Ants ’n’ uncles, uncles ’n’ ants / dancin’ the world with ants in his pants. / Goin’ where he’s / never been before on / his un-ant-ticipated / world tour.” The lively, poster-style illustrations accompany the uncle as he limbos, pirouettes, moonwalks, and tangos to fame through the world’s big cities, sending home postcards as he goes. Vivid colors pop off the pages as Uncle Bob goes from dancing in a spotlight to balancing atop the Eiffel Tower, with dancing ants alongside him. Unfortunately, Rice depicts Uncle Bob with exaggeratedly large, bare feet throughout, and several of the silhouettes also give him pendulous lips. The nature of the media means they are not detailed enough to keep readers from associating many of these images with minstrelsy. A lively introduction to distant places with some deeply unfortunate visuals. (Picture book. 4-7)
