Bee & Me

Reviewed by: Terri Bauld - Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library, Kennebunkport, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 12, 2018

Review

A outstanding wordless picture that tells the story of a little girl's engaging friendship with a gentle bumble bee. An interesting combination of pure fantasy laced with factual information, this story will keep readers engaged. It all begins when a bee flies in from the city into the little girl's bedroom window. With a fly swatter in hand, the little girl gazes upon the sad little bee preparing and she just can't do it. She puts down the swatter and their friendship begins. Many adventures follow as the bee grows and grows in size. One day they fly off together in search of seeds to sprinkle around the city. The layouts are varied, from full page spreads to pages with smaller panels, to little spots of images which make the story very dynamic. The color palette of soft blues, creams, and sage enlist a gentle, dreamy atmosphere while the detailed illustrations provide much to pore over. The story has a satisfying ending with the bee, the little girl and new friend playing together in the city park that is filled with flowers. A page of facts on bees that includes information on assisting bees, what flowers they like and a warning about not touching or picking up bees closes the book.

A strong cream-worthy addition to any library.

Overall Book Score: excellent