Page 1
In the summertime, the Ant marches back and forth from the fields to her home. In her tiny cottage, the Ant stacks crumbs of food as big as her head, one by one. She knows that winter, which comes every year, will be cold, and food will be scarce.
Page 2
In the summertime, the Grasshopper wears fancy hats and sits around in the fields chirping and singing. She has a voice that is as beautiful as silver and as smooth as velvet, as she sings this song:
"With every second in the summer light, I feel my heart soar towards the deep blue sky. And I adore the summer moon, so round and white. There is no happier bug alive than I."
Page 3
The Ant hears the Grasshopper's song, but doesn't stop working to listen. When the cold, snowy, windy winter comes, she is warm in her cottage and has plenty of crumbs to eat.
Page 4
But the Grasshopper doesn't have any food! She knocks at the Ant's door, shivering and hungry. "Please give me some of your food, for my fancy hat and my lovely voice are not keeping me warm at all," she begs.
Page 5
The Ant says to the Grasshopper, "But I worked hard all summer while you were singing and chirping. You should have been prepared for the hard times ahead, for you knew that summer would only last a few months."
Page 6
The Grasshopper cries,
"But all I have is my singing.
I can't carry big crumbs like you."
Page 7
The Ant says, "Be a singer, then. Everyone has her own special talent, dear Grasshopper. Everyone has her own work to do in this world."
Page 8
For the rest of the winter, the Grasshopper gives concerts for all the Ants of the world. Everyone feels happier as the music warms their winter-weary hearts. So they give the Grasshopper food and shelter so that she can keep cheering them up with her song.
