January 15, 2023
Young readers are encouraged to emulate a honey bee's actions as they learn about its basic biology. The smiling adult worker bee emerges with a "CHOMP, WIGGLE, [and] STRETCH" in the opening double-page spread; in a corner panel, three circles each highlight a different smiling human child (racially diverse) engaging in each action. This sets a pattern as the bee cycles through its various roles: nursing larvae, making honey, guarding, foraging. Setting key verbs in all-caps, the chirpy text uses the second person, further encouraging readers to relate to the insect protagonist: "You STOP on a flower. You unroll your long tongue and DRINK up the sweet nectar...SLURP!" Fleck's flat, undistinguished illustrations present a stylized bee with an oversized yellow head and black-and-yellow body that tapers to a point. It's all cute enough, but specific choices undermine the book's educational mission. While some specialized vocabulary is presented (royal jelly, glands, antennae), Thompson elides metamorphosis, saying the adult bee "wake[s] up," and incorrectly calls larvae "chubby white worms." Worse, Fleck's depiction of the honey bees' nest finds it hanging impossibly from a single branch, exposed to the elements. This in no way replaces or even complements Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann's magisterial Honeybee (2020). Well meaning but simplistic. (glossary, activities, facts) (Informational picture book. 4-7)
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January 20, 2023
Gr 1-3-A personable little honey bee with a smiling face takes readers through the hardworking life of a female bee. Emerging from her cell, a new bee begins her work and, in many stages, progresses to become a gatherer of nectar and maker of honey. As the bee chomps, stretches, chews, and pulls, a diverse group of cartoon children imitate her motions with similar chomps, stretches, and pulls. The lively text and helpful illustrations offer much information and allow readers to understand the varied and important skills bees must have in order to maintain their hive. Further information is offered in a glossary and in suggestions for children to imitate bees by dancing, cleaning, and foraging for colorful flowers. Of great value is the explanation on the importance of maintaining a healthy bee population. VERDICT A very useful work for environmental science and animal studies in the classroom and for individual reading. The hardworking life of a honey bee is shown through a lively text and colorful illustrations which offer significant information.-Eva Elisabeth VonAncken
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