PICTURE BOOKS

Let’s Be Bees

Holiday House/Neal Porter. Feb. 2025. 40p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780823457090. PreS-Gr 1
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1–Father and child cycle through funny, imaginative leaps to be buzzing bees, chirping birds, rustling trees, and more. Harris (Have You Ever Seen a Flower) works with furious crayonlike scribbles to depict a parent and child doing call-and-response: “Let’s be bees” is followed by buzzing, and “let’s be birds” is followed up with chirps. Despite the meta indicators (they are holding the same book readers are reading), there is no “what does it mean” to this riot of inviting, imitable sound effects and scratched-out, colorful scenes. The ebullience pours out from every page, and read-aloud sessions may never be the same.
VERDICT For big groups or just two reading, this book leaves one with the lingering feeling that this is a work to be shared and reshared.

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.


RELATED 

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?