  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 03/01/2018 PreS-Gr 2—Laminack and LaMarche have teamed up to create an informative and visually dazzling picture book about beekeeping. When Henry visits his Aunt Lilla, he learns about being close to nature, and is especially drawn to the bees. As he (and readers) learn more and more about bees' habits and their importance to humans, Henry longs to be part of the beekeeping process. He dances to draw them to a field of clover and hopes to show them the location of new hive. But he accidently spills some bee drops (an attractant) on the protective suit and finds himself under a coverlet of bees. Not to worry…Aunt Lilla gets the smoker and carefully drags the bee-covered suit to a new hive, and Henry is hailed the King of Bees. Laminack's uses his storyteller's rhythm and voice to teach without didacticism. LaMarche's trademark realistic watercolor and pencil illustrations bring the story to life. Laminack underscores the interrelationship between bees and people, and how hives work in a way that is easy for children to understand. Match this more rural treasure with an urban view of beekeeping in The Honeybee Man by Lela Nargi. VERDICT A must-have for most collections, perfect for reading aloud to a small group and for introducing a nature unit on bees.—Lisa Lehmuller, Paul Cuffee Maritime Charter School, Providence - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 03/01/2018 Henry and his aunt Lilla live on a farm in the South Carolina Lowcountry, and he happily helps with chores on their small patch of land, which contains the farmhouse, clothesline, henhouse, garden, marsh area with rowboat, and, of course, the beehives. More than anything else, Henry is fascinated by the bees. He watches Aunt Lilla closely as she calms the bees with smoke and speaks softly to the “girls.” She explains how the sister bees clean the hive, collect food, and make honey. Henry feels connected to the bees, humming and dancing to try to communicate with them. A close encounter with the hive almost has dire consequences, but Henry proves he is ready to take an active role in beekeeping. Sweetly nostalgic ink-and-watercolor illustrations could depict the past or the present and offer an atmospheric complement to the gentle, warm, and informative text. An author’s note provides further factual information about honeybees and their significant role in the human food production system. - Copyright 2018 Booklist. Loading...
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