Beehive

September 15, 2019
Hurley applies her trademark minimalist approach to a spring-through-fall sojourn with a colony of honeybees. The text has but 15 words, one per double-page spread: "buzz / swarm / explore / find / build / lay / feed / grown / fly / collect / pollinate / guard / sting / keep / honey." Muted, matte illustrations depict the action: The swarm flies above early-summer flowers till the bees happen upon a hollow tree, where they establish their hive. The queen lays eggs; workers feed the larvae. The metamorphosed adult bees collect pollen and nectar from tangerine-colored fall blooms and defend the hive from a marauding skunk in order to have honey enough to last the winter. For all the graphic simplicity of Hurley's images (gardeners will be scratching their heads as to the specific types of some of these flowers), her depiction of bee behavior is accurate. She takes considerable artistic license with the depiction of the hive in unrealistically exposing it within the enormous hole in the tree's trunk, but the device allows readers to see a curtainlike pane of wax comb within and takes a visual stand against the all-too-common erroneous depiction of a beehive as a wasps' nest. An author's note fills in the narrative conveyed by the illustrations, the words of the text helpfully printed in uppercase so that caregivers can expand on each spread for curious listeners. Simple, beautiful, surprisingly accurate. (Informational picture book. 3-6)

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December 23, 2019
Hurley’s signature style—single, carefully chosen words paired with illustrations notable for their sophisticated minimalist aesthetic—illuminates wild honeybees. Beginning with the “buzz” of a lone bee over a field of lilac-hued blooms, this spare story, told mostly in images, wends its way as the bees “swarm” and “explore,” “find” a tree to “build” a hive where the queen can “lay” eggs. After they “feed” the larvae, which become “grown,” and “fly,” the story shifts into “collect” and “pollinate” before the bees must “guard,” “sting,” and “keep” their ultimate creation: “honey.” Hurley’s author’s note cleverly uses these same words in a fuller narrative explaining their occurrences. Hurley’s clean-line pictures—egg-shaped dots in orange hexagonal cells; yellow-and-black bees perched in flowers’ centers, collecting orange pollen—clearly illustrate each concept, offering an appealingly simple introduction to a beloved insect. Ages 3–7.

Starred review from January 1, 2020

PreS-Gr 2-Taking a complex idea and breaking it down into a picture book is a difficult task. Here, Hurley describes the extraordinary lives of bees through spare, succinct language and intriguing art. The first spread shows a bee in a flower meadow. If there is anything children know about bees, it is the buzzing sound they make. Right away, readers have something they already know that they can hang new information on. More bees in the next spread are described in a word: "swarm." These spreads are ideal for sharing with young children, whether on a lap or in a group. Readers learn that bees explore to find the perfect place for a hive, which they then build as a team. Eggs are laid, nurtured, and grow. Here viewers need to look closely. How does this spread show "grow?" Looking carefully, one can see tiny bees emerging from cells in the hive. Pollination is covered as is the lengths bees go to in defending their hives. This engaging book is a full-fledged story of a creature that is an integral part of the ecosystem, and how they survive. This is a great starting place to talk about how all life is part of one world. The author's note at the end expands on bees and their importance in the natural world. VERDICT This is a must-buy for all libraries. It's an appealing introduction to science, ecosystems, and how even the smallest of creatures can matter enormously to our lives.-Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2019
Preschool-G Large Photoshop illustrations reveal the business and busyness of bees in this informational picture book. In a mere 15 words (the first one: buzz), the book succinctly explains what bees do in a simple format for very young children. One word in large, lowercase letters appears on each double-page spread and clear, graphic illustrations fill the pages using appealing pastel hues. Through a meadow blooming with lavender and periwinkle-colored flowers, a honeybee leads a swarm toward their new home, where the queen bee will lay her eggs. After the new bees emerge from their honeycomb, they will then pollinate plants and collect honey. If their honey source is threatened, they will use their only available weapon?a "sting"?to dissuade the intruder, though it will cost them their lives. The leaves on the trees shift from green to orange, indicating a change in seasons. An author's note at the conclusion explains all the words used in the text, highlighting each one in capital letters. A clever and attractive resource for the youngest set.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)