Colette: The Solitary Bee
By (Author) Jean-Franois Snchal
Illustrated by Pascale Bonenfant
Comme des geants inc.
Milky Way
10th July 2025
Canada
Children
Fiction
Childrens / Teenage general interest: Insects, spiders, minibeasts
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: Self-awareness and self-esteem
Hardback
44
Width 191mm, Height 241mm
A heartwarming introduction to reading for kids ages three and up about how even solitary beings need people too, from Jean-Franois Snchal and Pascale Bonenfant
Anyone can make it on their ownjust ask Colette! Shes a solitary bee who enjoys her own company more than anyone elses and thrives on her independence. Colette can do just about anything by herself: day-to-day tasks, cleverly navigating the elements, and even setting out on solo adventures. But sometimes, even the most solitary bees need other insects aroundlike when things dont go as planned, or when theyve simply got a good story to tell. Colette: The Solitary Bee is an adorable, heartwarming tale that shows us we can be proud to do things by ourselves, but its also pretty great to share our lived experiences with those around us.
Loners, only children, and the singularly single, rejoice: Colette the bee is here to tell your story! . . . The book looks like a classic, and it will very likely prove to be, thanks to its charming protagonist. Invite Colette to your next storytime or include her in a shared one-on-one reading experience; shell be equally welcome in both, and her adventures should be enjoyed by everyone, from the solitary to the gregarious. As delightfully sweet and pure as honey. * Kirkus* starred review *
As the son of two teachers, Jean-Franois Snchal grew up around books. After studying anthropology for a time, he ultimately gravitated back to his first love, devoting himself entirely to literature. His storiesexploring societal issues such as exclusion and inequality for audiences of children and adolescentshave garnered him various honors, including the 2017 Joseph S. Stauffer Prize from the Canada Council for the Arts, and a Governor Generals Award for childrens literature. Pascale Bonenfant uses drawing, collage, watercolor, and screen printing to bring her playful works of art to life. After studying design and visual arts at Laval University, she deepened her love for illustration by becoming a professor of graphic design. In recent years, her work has appeared in a wide range of exhibitions and publications, including more than a dozen books. She lives in Qubec City, Canada.