Honey... Honey... Lion!

Starred review from August 8, 2005
Brett's (The Umbrella
) intricately detailed watercolor and gouache art spotlights the wildlife of Botswana's Okavango Delta, where the winged honeyguide, a sparrow-like bird, and a honey badger (whose markings resemble a skunk's) "are partners when it comes to honey." The little bird routinely guides Badger to beehives, where he uses his strong claws to break open the honeycomb and "together they share the sweetness." But one day, after Badger refuses to share, and the sly bird teaches him a lesson. She leads Badger over land and water crying, "Honey, honey, honey!" and brings him to an acacia tree. However, with a lift of the flap, readers discover that the tree's low-hanging branches camouflage not a hive but rather a ferocious-looking lion (one paw in evidence offers a clue). "Lion, lion, lion!" reads the text as the angry cat chases Badger ("Swish, swish
through the grass... Boom, boom
over the hollow log") while Brett offers readers a stunning tour of this diverse and unique landscape. Badger reaches his burrow in the nick of time, and the delta's denizens spread the tale's humorous yet important moral about the importance of expressing appreciation. The spry narrative incorporates sound effects that make this a natural read-aloud, and the high spot is surely Brett's meticulous renderings of African animals and vegetation, presented against a parchment-like backdrop and framed by striking borders featuring beads and feathers. Readers may well feel as if they, like the author, have visited breathtaking Botswana. Ages 4-8.

September 1, 2005
K-Gr 2 -This title is based on the legend of the honeyguide, an African bird that leads an animal to a honeycomb and then shares the spoils once the stronger creature has broken it open. In Brett's version, Honeyguide takes revenge upon a greedy honey badger that refuses to share the sweet treat. She leads him on a merry chase that ends up not at a honeycomb but at the lair of a lion. Badger's pursuit of the honeyguide and flight from the lion are reminiscent of -We're Going on a Bear Hunt, - with each landmark and sound effect revisited on the return journey. Brett has created another lush winner with beautifully detailed illustrations of the animals and a clear, fast-paced story. Honeyguide's anger and subsequent punishment of Badger is witnessed by the other animals that form a bush telegraph, passing news along from individual to individual. This process is visualized on the edges of each page in typical Brett style -a story within a story. This lovely title works equally well for storyhours or for one-on-one sharing. Readers interested in other versions of the legend can check out Francesca Martin's "The Honey Hunters" (Candlewick, 1994)." -Kara Schaff Dean, Needham Public Library, MA"

Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2005
PreS-Gr. 2. Honeyguide, an African bird, has always helped her friend Badger find honey, and in turn, the team always devours the sweet hives together. One day, Badger greedily consumes the honey himself, so his feathered friend gets mad. The next day she leads Badger on a wild hunt for what he thinks is honey. Through the baobab roots ("Pitter, patter!"), into the water hole ("Splish, splash!"), over the termite mound ("Sprong!"), and straight into an acacia bush, the resting spot of a soon-to-be-angry lion, which readers can see by lifing a flap. Brett brings her traditionally ornate style to an African setting, specifically Botswana's Okavango Delta, forming patterns with skins, seeds, and feathers to craft her careful borders. Side panels reveal myriad African animals spreading the news through the plains of Badger's betrayal via "bush telegraph," from elephant to hippo, hippo to warthog, warthog to hyena. Badger and Honeyguide's sound-effect-filled trek guarantees a lively read-aloud.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)