Follow That Bee!

April 1, 2019

K-Gr 3-The newest installment in the series takes a look at the wonderful world of honeybees. A diverse group of youngsters visits their beekeeper neighbor, Mr. Cardinal, for a glimpse into the habits and habitats of their pollinator friends. The illustrations are cute, colorful, and relatable, featuring the children, buzzing bees, and the companionship of an adorable dog and cat. Fun facts (did you know that bees can't see the color red?) and pleasing puns ("bee a good neighbor!") increase interest and comprehension while effectively educating readers. Information about the dangers of pesticides and loss of bee habitats, as well as activity suggestions such as building a bee bath, will inspire environmental awareness and action. The book can also be used in the classroom to talk about other Common Core themes such as the life cycle of plants. Back matter includes a helpful glossary of science terms including larvae and native species. VERDICT Recommended for general elementary collections; animal lovers and budding conservationists will enjoy this peek into the life of a familiar and crucial species.-Alyssa Annico, Youngstown State University, OH

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2019
Ritchie's five friends are back and learning about urban beekeeping in this newest outing in the Exploring Our Community series.Their guide is Mr. Cardinal, who keeps two hives in his pesticide-free, dandelion-dotted backyard garden. The kids help him pick out new, native flowers at the nursery to add to his garden before visiting a local pollinator garden. They look sadly at a new building going up in a formerly vacant lot before returning to Mr. Cardinal's to harvest honey and put it into jars. Nick is stung and calmly sits while Mr. Cardinal extracts the stinger and treats the sting. Throughout, bee facts are imparted in the running narrative, in supplemental expository text on each topical spread and in dialogue balloons ("Bees like purple, blue and yellow flowers," says Pedro; "They can't see the color red!" adds Yulee). Tips on helping bees and a glossary close the tale. While there is some oversimplification (the extraction of honey for market is far quicker and less messy than in real life), most of the information presented is solid, with the unfortunate exception of the illustration of a feral beehive as a gray, papery blob rather than separate panes of waxy, bee-covered comb. The kids are diverse; Mr. Cardinal has tan skin and black hair.A serviceable introduction to a hot topic. (Informational picture book. 5-8)

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May 15, 2019
Grades K-2 In this brightly illustrated picture book, Mr. Cardinal introduces urban beekeeping to an amiable group of five curious children. They begin in Mr. Cardinal's garden, go to a garden center to buy bee-friendly plants, visit a pollinator garden, and return to his yard to learn about his beehives. Along the way, they discover what bees eat, how they build their hives, how they communicate, how pollinators support our food supply, what endangers them, and how people can help. The story concludes with Mr. Cardinal selling honey at a local market. An appended section shows how to make a bee bath and encourages schools to plant pollinator gardens. On each double-page spread, the text carries the narrative, Mr. Cardinal's remarks, the children's comments, and facts related to the topic at hand. Speech balloons and captions sometimes appear within the large illustration to the right. Colorful washes brighten the attractive ink drawings that illustrate this helpful introduction to bees. An informative addition to Ritchie's Exploring Our Community series and a useful selection for many libraries.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)