Think the Old West is gone? Just check beneath the nearest juicy leaf, where you well might find ants herding aphids (aka “ant cows”) and “milking” them for a sweet excretion called honeydew. From there, it’s only a whoop and a holler to this britches-bustin’ tale of a canny, six-legged Deputy Sheriff on the trail of a gang of rustlers. Set in the bustling, buggy burg of Ant Hill and featuring an all-insect cast decked out in fancy cowboy boots, Stetsons and other western finery, this arthropod oater takes more twists than a bee-stung bronc on its way to a climactic faceoff. As it turns out, the thieves, disguised as ladybugs, include even Deputy Harvey’s own boss—but Harvey triumphs thanks to some unexpected help from a decidedly tough-looking crew of real ladybugs, led by queen beetle Maybelle. There’ll be no problem corralling little dogies for this caper. (author’s note) (Picture book. 6-8)
