Read the book: «Little Ants Adventures. Stories for kids»

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ISBN 978-5-0065-6524-1

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

The Adventures Begin

On the edge of the forest, nestled beneath a towering oak tree, there stood a bustling anthill, its chambers winding like a labyrinth deep into the earth. This was not just any anthill – it was the home of Irra and Frra, two little ant siblings with curious eyes and hearts brimming with mischief.

Irra, the ant-girl with her long red pigtails and her face sprinkled with freckles, was the dreamer of the duo. Her imagination could conjure entire kingdoms hidden beneath dandelions. Frra, the ant-boy on the other hand, was her steadfast companion, his short haircut constantly ruffled from their adventures. He was the thinker, always calculating, always planning. Together, they were unstoppable…

The days in the anthill followed an unchanging rhythm. The adult ants – countless and relentless – scurried off at sunrise, their antennae twitching as they dragged food or repaired tunnels. The young ants, like Irra and Frra, were left to attend school in the heart of the anthill and then play.

One morning, as the first golden rays of the sun filtered through the mossy canopy above, Irra and Frra were finishing their breakfast of sweet aphid nectar. Their parents had already left for the day, their farewell hugs quick and practiced, leaving the siblings seated in their cozy leaf-woven dining corner.

«I’m bored of school,» Irra declared, resting her pointy elbow on the table and propping her chin in her hand.

Frra looked up, his antennae twitching thoughtfully. «It’s the same every day. Spelling drills, digging practice, how to carry crumbs properly… It’s important, I guess, but couldn’t we have just one day to… explore?»

Irra’s freckles crinkled as a grin spread across her face. «Exactly what I was thinking. Let’s have an adventure! A real one. There’s an old story about the Great Strawberry Field just beyond the meadow. The older ants say it’s filled with berries bigger than our entire anthill!»

Frra arched a tiny eyebrow. «You mean the one we’re *not* supposed to go to because it’s too dangerous?»

«Exactly!» Irra cried, her pigtails bouncing. «What could be more exciting?»

Frra hesitated, but the spark of curiosity in his sister’s eyes was contagious. After all, they were a team – and there was no way he’d let her go alone.

The siblings made their way past the anthill’s outer tunnels and emerged into the sunlight. Their antennae quivered as the warm breeze carried the scent of wildflowers and distant strawberries. The meadow they’d always played in seemed vast and open, stretching endlessly toward the horizon. Somewhere out there was the Great Strawberry Field.

Irra and Frra scampered through the grass, their tiny feet moving quickly beneath the massive blades towering above them like trees. Irra led the way, and Frra kept track of their route by marking a trail with tiny droplets of sap, ensuring they could find their way back.

Everything felt exhilarating – different from their usual routine. They climbed over twigs and tunneled under fallen leaves, hopping over dewdrops that glistened like jewels in the grass.

«Do you smell that?» Irra asked excitedly, pausing to sniff the air. A sweet, fruity scent wafted toward them, stronger with each step. «We’re close! But just as their excitement reached its peak, they encountered their first obstacle. Blocking their path was a colossal creature – a caterpillar, plump and striped with green and yellow. It munched lazily on a leaf the size of a boat, its round eyes flicking toward the two ant siblings.

«Who dares to cross my leaf?» rumbled the caterpillar. Its voice was slow and syrupy, as if it had all the time in the world.

Irra stepped forward, undeterred. «We’re on a quest to find the Great Strawberry Field. Can we pass through?»

The caterpillar blinked at them, then let out a deep chuckle. «The Strawberry Field? Brave little ants, but you’ll need to solve my riddle first.»

Frra groaned. He was good at puzzles, but they always made him nervous under pressure. Still, he nodded. «Alright. What’s your riddle?»

The caterpillar’s antennae wiggled as it recited:

«I’m home to treasure, bright and sweet,

But I’m no friend to little feet.

Once I’m found, I’m hard to lose,

And I’ll stain the ground with reds and blues. What am I?»

Irra and Frra exchanged knowing smiles. «A berry!» they shouted together.

The caterpillar grinned and inched aside, allowing them to pass. «Good luck, little ones. But beware – finding the Strawberry Field is only the beginning.»

When they finally reached the Great Strawberry Field, Irra and Frra gasped. The strawberries were magnificent – plump, red, and glittering with morning dew. They were so large that one berry alone could feed their entire anthill for a week. The ground beneath the plants was soft and fragrant, and the towering leaves above cast dappled shadows.

«It’s even better than the stories,» Irra whispered in awe.

Frra was already analyzing the situation. «We should take a piece back to show everyone. It’s too far to bring the whole anthill here, but we can prove it’s real.»

Irra nodded and began climbing the nearest strawberry stem, her nimble legs moving quickly. But as she reached the base of a berry, the ground below them trembled.

«Frra… did you feel that?»

The tremor grew stronger, and out from the shadows emerged a long-legged, spindly figure – a spider. Its many eyes glinted as it hissed, «Thieves in my field! You’ll pay with your lives!»

Frra instantly grabbed a fallen leaf and raised it like a shield. «Stay back!» he shouted, his voice shaking.

Irra scurried down the stem, her heart pounding. «What do we do?!»

Frra’s mind raced. The sap trail they’d left – it was their lifeline. «We run! Follow the trail!»

And so, hand in hand, the siblings dashed through the field, the spider chasing close behind. Its legs moved like lightning, but Irra and Frra’s small size allowed them to weave through tight spaces and under roots where the predator couldn’t follow.

Finally, they reached the meadow, their legs aching and their tiny lungs burning. Only when the anthill came into view did they allow themselves to stop and catch their breath.

That evening, as their parents returned home and the family gathered for dinner, Irra and Frra couldn’t stop grinning. They didn’t tell the adults about their adventure – at least, not yet – but the siblings shared victorious glances, knowing they had broken the monotony of their routine.

And tucked away in a secret corner of the anthill, hidden inside a tiny hollowed-out seed, was a single ruby-red fragment of strawberry – a treasure from the Great Strawberry Field, proof of their courage and curiosity.

As they drifted off to sleep that night, Irra whispered to her brother, «What do you think we’ll explore next?»

Frra smiled in the darkness. «We’ll figure it out, Irra. Together.»

A Dangerous Encounter with a Viper

Once upon a time, in a sprawling green forest, there lived a colony of ants under a vast anthill that peaked like a small mountain. Among these small but spirited creatures were two red ants, siblings named Irra and Frra. They spent their days in the warm summer sun, free from the responsibilities of the hive, and the world around them was their playground.

Irra was the audacious one, her vibrant spirit igniting the dull afternoon. She dreamed of great adventures, always tied to the scent of wildflowers and the echo of gentle breezes. Frra, on the other hand, was level-headed and cautious. He valued safety over reckless exploration, often behind the scenes, strategizing their fun.

«C’mon, Frra! Let’s explore beyond the thicket today. There’s a whole world out there waiting for us!» Irra exclaimed one sunny morning, her antennae twitching with excitement.

«If we go into the deeper forest, we need to be careful,» Frra replied, his voice laced with concern. «There are predators, and you know how unpredictable the world can be.»

«Don’t be such a worrywart! We’ll be fine!» she insisted, dragging her brother with her towards the delightful unknown.

With reluctance, Frra allowed himself to be led by his adventurous sister, and off they scurried. The forest was buzzing with life; the sunlight filtered through the leaves, painting the ground with golden patches. Irra darted around, peeking under rocks and climbing up blades of grass, but Frra stayed close, ever watchful.

After a while, they disembarked on a clearing that seemed enchanted. Irra was captivated by a patch of shimmering dew-drops clinging to a spider’s web like tiny jewels. «Look at this, Frra! It’s beautiful!» she said, her eyes starry with wonder.

But while she admired her find, they unknowingly wandered into the territory of a menacing creature – a sleek, slithering viper. The snake had been basking in the sun, its eyes half-closed, when the glimmer of the ants caught its attention. With a flick of its tongue and a terrifying hiss, it signaled that lunch had arrived.

Irra instinctively turned and screamed, «Frra! Run!» They dashed through the grass, a blur of red, their tiny legs moving as fast as they could. The viper lunged, its forked tongue tasting the air, and soon enough, it gave chase, its sinuous body gliding smoothly over the forest floor.

«Quick, Irra, to the hill!» Frra urged, his mind racing to find a way to shake off the predator. But the snake was gaining on them, its eyes gleaming with hunger.

Panting and pushing ahead, they darted under a clump of ferns. The siblings squeezed through the dense foliage as the viper circled, searching. Irra’s heart pounded in her tiny chest, but the thrill of the chase only ignited her adventurous spirit further.

«Think, Frra! We need a plan!» cried Irra. At that moment, she caught a glimpse of a fallen log nearby, its bark stripping away, revealing a dark hollow inside. «Let’s hide there!»

With no time to waste, they scurried towards the log and squeezed into the darkened space just moments before the viper swooped in. The snake peered into the hollow, its breath hot and menacing. Should it probe, the siblings knew that they might not escape.

«This way!» Frra whispered, spotting a narrow exit on the other side of the log. Quietly and cautiously, they crawled toward it. Frra nudged Irra before they made a break for it through the exit just as the viper lost interest and slithered away.

Once they were safely away, Irra turned to Frra and said, «That was the most exciting thing ever! Did you see how close it was?»

«Exciting? I think you mean terrifying!» Frra countered, his voice steady amidst the rising anxiety. «We could have been – »

«I know, I know,» Irra interrupted, «but we outsmarted it! We worked together!»

Frra sighed, still nervous but proud of his sister’s spirited approach. «Let’s just keep moving. We can’t afford to have another close call.»

As they traversed deeper into the forest, they stumbled upon a shimmering pond alive with colorful insects dancing above its surface. Irra’s curiosity was piqued, and she marched forward. «Frra! Look! I want to see what’s on that lily pad!»

«Wait!» Frra warned, but Irra was already scampering toward the water. Suddenly, a shadow passed over them. They looked up to see a giant dragonfly hovering just above, it locked its eyes on them as it descended.

The siblings froze! This was yet another test of their ingenuity and unity. With a swift and clever glance, Irra shouted, «Frra! We need to distract it!»

In a flash of inspiration, they began to kick tiny pebbles from the pond’s edge toward a thicket nearby, causing splashes and sounds that drew the dragonfly’s attention. Just as planned, the dragonfly diverged sharply, darting towards the noise. Meanwhile, the siblings slipped away, their hearts racing with adrenalin yet again.

«This was not how I imagined our summer vacation would go,» Frra panted, shaking off the thrill of that encounter.

«Why? It’s more exciting than sitting inside all day!» Irra grinned, her overt enthusiasm infectious.

«And I have to admit,» Frra relented, «that was quite clever.» He couldn’t hide a smile now.

The sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest. As they wandered homeward, they found the familiar path leading back to their anthill.

«I guess we should stick to safer paths from now on,» Frra suggested, though they both knew that Irra’s adventurous spirit could not easily be contained.

That night, as they crawled into their cozy little corner in the anthill, Irra turned to Frra. «So, did you have fun?»

«No more close encounters with snakes, please,» he laughed, his eyes gleaming with shared courage and excitement.

And with that, the siblings drifted off to sleep, dreaming of lands yet to be explored and adventures waiting to unfold. For in the union of caution and courage, every adventure, even the dangerous ones, brought them even closer together.

The Wild Wood Adventure

The golden glow of morning peeked through the dense canopy of the Wild Wood, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor. Irra and Frra, two young ants from the Hilltop Colony, had wandered far from their home in search of adventure. Irra, a clever and curious girl-ant, carried a tiny pouch of nectar crumbs for sustenance, while Frra, a brave but slightly clumsy boy-ant, wielded a slender twig he had fashioned into a makeshift spear.

«See, Irra?» Frra grinned, tapping his twig against a mossy rock. «A spear! It’ll keep us safe if we run into trouble.»

«I’d rather we don’t *find* trouble,» Irra replied, adjusting her pouch. She glanced around nervously. The Wild Wood was as enchanting as it was dangerous, filled with shadows that seemed to dart and flicker with unseen predators. «Besides, we’ve gone too far. I think we need to go back.»

But as the words left her mouth, a sharp breeze rustled the giant fern leaves above, and the two ants realized with a jolt – they had no idea which way ’back’ was.

The Wild Wood was vast and confusing, each leaf and branch looking the same. And so their adventure truly began.

The Strike of the Deadly Beetles

Their first challenge arose when they came upon a hollow log bridging a murky puddle. The log seemed like the safest path forward, but as they carefully crawled across, they didn’t notice the gleaming eyes lurking in the shadows.

A group of jewel beetles, their iridescent shells gleaming menacingly, emerged from cracks in the log. The beetles clicked their mandibles in unison, their leader rasping, «Trespassers! This is *our* log. You’ll have to pay a toll.»

«We have nothing to pay with,» Irra said, her antennae trembling. «Please, we just want to pass.»

The beetles closed in, surrounding the little ants. Frra raised his twig-spear with a determined look. «Stay behind me, Irra,» he whispered.

Before the beetles could pounce, Irra suddenly had an idea. «Wait!» she shouted, holding up her pouch. «We have nectar crumbs. Enough for everyone to share!»

The lure of the sweet treat distracted the beetles momentarily, giving Irra and Frra just enough time to spring into action. While the beetles scrambled for the crumbs, the two ants leaped off the log and landed safely on a clump of moss below, tumbling into one another but alive.