"I Can't" Said the Ant

by Polly Cameron

Book Overview

"I CAN'T" SAID THE ANT words and pictures by Polly Cameron. 1961 Scholastic softcover 7.5 x 9 inches, 40 pages. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Library Binding
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0590020498
• ISBN13: 9780590732772
• Release Date: September 1961
• Publisher: Scholastic
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 0.23 lbs.
• Dimensions: 20.0" x 20.0" x 20.0"

Customer Reviews

A New Generation of "ant" lovers!

How can I resist adding my comments, after reading how many others went in search of this book for exactly the same reason I did! I have a old, tattered copy from my childhood that I recently pulled out to read to my 3 1/2 yr. old, thinking he was finally old enough to listen to it. He listened intently, asking all about why the teapot fell and what the spiders were doing... and when we came to the line, "Don't be dumb" said the crumb." - he burst out laughing in a fit of joyful giggles that lasted a full 10 minutes! How could I not go in search of a new copy so my children and I can share the laughter together? A truly wonderful, joyful book about friends and teamwork.

Meaningful for each generation

I've been searching for copies of "I Can't Said the Ant" since my first child was born six and half years ago. I now have four kids and I don't know why it's taken me this long to finally purchase this book! Hardly a day passes that I don't think of it because my kids are often saying, "I can't..." and my response is always, "I can't, said the ant...try, said the fly..." My mother also read this book with me, and as both my parents have passed away the story will be more meaningful. Now if I can just keep it in decent condition!

I Can't Said The Ant

You know I was sitting here going though a book order form from my daughters school and I remembered when I used to get them when I was in kinergarten. Which got me to thinking of my favorite book, I always checked out when my mom would take me to the public library, "I Can't Said The Ant". I would sit there for hours reading the story and enjoying the rhyming all the way through... :) I wish I had boughten a copy of it when I was younger, and I am also sad to hear it is out of print, such a wonderful book for kids should be brought back to print. I know my children would love to hear the story everynight just as I liked to when I was a child, I know I would love to read the story everynight.

Engages the playful qualities of all children and adults!

My grown daughters were broken-hearted at finding I Can't Said the Ant was out of print. We tried to recall the most memorable rhyming pairs-"How bleak" said the leek; "She'll die" said the fly; "I can't bear it" said the carrot; "You must" said the crust...incredibly, they were able to remember, with much laughter, many of the phrases they would use in other contexts for 30 years. Now they want to share with their own children the tale of Miss Ant who, as the story begins is a powerless creature witness to an accident involving the teapot, and emerges, thanks to the support, both verbal and physical, of the kitchen residents, as the savior of the teapot. "Polly, put the kettle on; we'll all have tea!"Let's get this book back in the hands of the deprived children of this generation!

wonderful rhyming book

My sister had this book, and I am so upset that she cannot locate it. I have phrases that are stuck in my mind, like: "What's all the clatter?" said the platter. "Teapot fell," said the dinner bell. "Pick her up," said the cup. "I can't," said the ant. "Please try," said the pie. "You must," said the crust. "Don't be dumb," said the crumb. It is very imaginative, and I wish I could read it to my children.