Bee & Me

(Paperback, Updated 2022)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

A bee flies in the window of the high-rise flat where she lives and a little girl is frightened. She traps the bee and then wonders what to do. This beautiful wordless picture book traces the growing friendship between girl and bee and introduces small children to the ecology of the natural world. Highlighting the plight of the disappearing bumble bee, it shows how some simple actions can help restore beauty and balance in our environment. With a list of bee-friendly seeds to plant and ways to protect bees at home.

Reviews

A beautifully expressive wordless picture book, chronicling not only the friendship between a girl and a bee, but also the interdependency of the man-made and natural worlds. * The Bookseller *
Alison Jay's pictures for 'Bee and Me' have the same softness and delicacy as the bumblebee that zooms into a girl's bedroom high above city streets. * Wall Street Journal *
There isn't a single word in this book but every picture speaks volumes... tells you all you need to know about the life cycle of the bee and why they are so important... we can't recommend this book highly enough. * @thebookbag *
This is a wonderful story of friendship that will invite many varied retellings. It also contains helpful back matter about the importance of bees and how to attract and protect them. * School Library Journal *
A sweet bee idyll * Kirkus Reviews *
A hopeful tale of friendship and flower power...No-one likes to be stung and it looks like the bee might be all over before the story's even begun. Fortunately, a crack in the door of curiosity and bravery opens up the way for a joint adventure bringing plants and flowers across the grey city, delivering beauty and benefits to all city inhabitants, whether honey bees or humans. * PlayingbytheBook *
Good weather and al fresco dining often ends up stressful for parents with many children fearful of bees. Now is therefore the perfect time to introduce this stunning wordless picture book, about a little girl's friendship with a bee, to allow young children to understand them better. Muted colours create a gentle atmosphere, and Bee's kind face is anything but threatening. Imaginative, yet informative, the lack of text in 'Bee & Me' allows readers to create the story and give Bee a voice of their choice. * Library Mice blog *
Bee & Me... has fast become one of our favourites in our house! Even before buying it, once I had told my daughter that it had no words and you can tell the story from the pictures, straight away she was sat flicking through the pages telling herself the story. From that moment, the book was sold to me!... Every time you look at the book, you notice something new... Bee & Me is a fantastic way to introduce the concept of conservation to children. -- Emily Ann Davison * My Book Corner *

Author Bio

Alison Jay graduated from the London College of Printing with a first class degree in graphic design and, after a short stint in animation, has been an illustrator ever since. She has over 30 children's books to her name and has been listed for some of the world's most prestigious awards.