Bug-A-Boos: The Return of the Fire Ants

This story takes place deep in the Great Forest where people are rarely seen. The inhabitants of this land called Bug-A-Boos may be bothered from time to time by animals like lizards or bears but most of the time the bugs who live in this story go about then-own business of getting food, building homes or arguing or fighting with each other. Bug -A- Boos is a community much like the ones people create, although on a much smaller scale.Ralph the Drone is the main character in this story. He is an unusual bee because he is not simply a worker bee; he is a thinking bee who is concerned over threats to the well being of all of the bugs. It was that characteristic which got Ralph in trouble because he openly disagreed with a plan for handling a drought which was announced by the Monarch, the leader of all the bugs. Ralph found himself banished to the land of the fire ants for daring to suggest a better approach.This proved to be fortunate because Ralph and two friends who joined him, Milllie the Moth and Chuck the Chub, overheard the fire ant''s leader,General G, planning an attack on Bug-A-Boos and recommended a way to counter the attack. The plan worked and the fire ants were turned back. Ralph was still held in disdain, however.The leader of the fire ants, General G, was not the type of bug that would give up easily. He also vowed to get even with Ralph the Drone and made a pact with the evil Ann Mantis to capture Ralph. She was more than pleased to help General G because of her long standing hate of Ralph.When Ralph is captured by the fire ants, it appears the peaceful community of Bug-A-Boos and its incompetent leader, the Monarch, will at last fall prey to the fire ants.

Bug-A-Boos: The Return of the Fire Ants is a continuation of the characters and situations of Ron Kessler''s first published story for children. Before Bug-A-Boos, he had written several fiction pieces but made little attempt to have them published. The reason was that the audience he wrote for was his grandchildren. Their pleasure was his enjoyment.He did self-publish a short story "The Christmas Flower" which has been included on the seasonal reading list of selected elementary schools. In responding to requests from those schools, he has distributed several hundred copies free of charge.Bug-A-Boos was Ron''s first book length story targeted on children. The sequel, "The Return of the Fire Ants" was written primarily because of the positive response by the children and teachers to his first book.Mr. Kessler''s principal career was a federal government executive. In that role, he wrote a number of technical articles. He retired a few years ago and found more time for his favorite pastime, fiction writing. Most of the characters in Bug-A-Boos , and its sequel, reflect the personalities and behaviors of actual people he encountered during his federal career Although it is not important that readers recognize any real life characters in the book, Ron Kessler did seek to highlight qualities of people and lessons learned that he wanted young people to ponder..