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Hi everyone, my name is Patrick Mullins, and I am the proud father of two beautiful little boys. I am also the author and designer of the children’s book, The Ant and The Boy.
Being dyslexic, writing a children’s book was the last thing in the world I would have thought I would end up doing. But one day while on holiday this is exactly what I did.
My two boys are my inspiration and the reason I became an author. My oldest boy loves picture books and a good story, and his younger brother has now started to enjoy listening along too. Reading a good bedtime story has become part of our bedtime routine, and seeing the magic in my two boys’ eyes while they listen, inspired me to create a story of my own.
What next?
After seeing how happy my little boy was, to see the story made into a real book, I now plan on writing more children’s books. I am looking forward to putting pen to paper and seeing what creations I come up with next. Not only that, but I also plan on creating more The Ant and The Boy related books. Such as colouring books, activity books etc. So please follow me for updates and new releases.
Reviewed by Kristine Zimmerman for Readers' Favorite
The Ant and the Boy: Children's Picture Book About Friendship and Bravery by Patrick Mullins started as a bedtime story that Patrick made up for his son. His son loved it so much that his dad turned it into a delightful book. Young Patrick dreamed of being a friendly giant. He's disappointed one day when the older children won't let him play with them because he is too little. Patrick wanders off and finds some ants. He hopes that they will play with him. The ants see him as a giant, but is he a friendly or evil giant? One brave ant decides to find out. What will he discover about Patrick? Will the two become friends?
The Ant and the Boy taps into a child's curiosity and imagination. Many kids want to be big. Patrick Mullins recognizes this and allows young Patrick to be the giant in his story. Children are also fascinated with the world around them, often with things that grown-ups fail to notice or take for granted. Patrick recovers from his rejection by the older kids by noticing creatures smaller than himself and offering them a chance to play with him. There is a wonderful section that allows for some ticklish fun between the reader and the listener, making for a great interactive game. The illustrations are also by Mullins and are cheerful and bright. Patrick is depicted as a rosy-cheeked, tow-headed boy with an engaging smile. The ants are all similar except for the brave ant. Mullins has included a seek-and-find picture at the end, for additional fun. This is a charming tale that will have kids laughing out loud.
