The King of Bees

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A gentle intergenerational tale for young readers about the importance of patience and the fascinating work of beekeeping, from award-winning author Lester L. Laminack and celebrated illustrator Jim Lamarche.

Henry wants nothing more than to be like his Aunt Lilla and work with the beehives on their Lowcountry farm. He watches her every day, working hard outside in her bee suit, but what amazes him the most is her ability to communicate with the bees. Henry feels certain he can, too.

Then one day, Aunt Lilla tells him the bees are preparing to leave the hive and may leave the farm entirely. Henry believes it is up to him to communicate with the bees and convince them to stay, before it's too late.

An author's note includes additional information about bees and bee conservation.

Pages: 32

Age: 4-8

Praise:

Laminack (Three Hens and a Peacock) proffers a gentle tale full of Southern charm about a boy whose aunt is a beekeeper. Henry is fascinated by his Aunt Lilla’s hives and by the rapport she has with her bees. “Sister bees hum when they’re working,” she explains. “If they have news to tell, they do their talking-dance.” There’s a queen, she tells him, but no king. Henry’s awkward attempts to help his “sisters” and his aunt culminate in a chance to save her hive in an unexpected way—an occasion that calls for Henry to stay calm when he becomes covered with bees. Aunt Lilla is independent, knowledgeable about the creatures she keeps, and able to explain complicated concepts to Henry in a way he (and readers) can understand. LaMarche (Pond) dwells on the beauty of the South Carolina Lowcountry. His ink-and-watercolor spreads are light and dreamy, with evocative sunrise shades and detailed looks at beekeeping equipment and the bees themselves. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

03/01/2018
PreS-Gr 2—Laminack and LaMarche have teamed up to create an informative and visually dazzling picture book about beekeeping. When Henry visits his Aunt Lilla, he learns about being close to nature, and is especially drawn to the bees. As he (and readers) learn more and more about bees' habits and their importance to humans, Henry longs to be part of the beekeeping process. He dances to draw them to a field of clover and hopes to show them the location of new hive. But he accidently spills some bee drops (an attractant) on the protective suit and finds himself under a coverlet of bees. Not to worry…Aunt Lilla gets the smoker and carefully drags the bee-covered suit to a new hive, and Henry is hailed the King of Bees. Laminack's uses his storyteller's rhythm and voice to teach without didacticism. LaMarche's trademark realistic watercolor and pencil illustrations bring the story to life. Laminack underscores the interrelationship between bees and people, and how hives work in a way that is easy for children to understand. Match this more rural treasure with an urban view of beekeeping in The Honeybee Man by Lela Nargi. VERDICT A must-have for most collections, perfect for reading aloud to a small group and for introducing a nature unit on bees.—Lisa Lehmuller, Paul Cuffee Maritime Charter School, Providence

School Library Journal

2018-02-03
Henry learns a lesson in responsibility and nature in this quiet tale of love and honeybees.Henry lives with his aunt Lilla in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Lilla's home is a small farm, and the two rely on honey from their beehives and eggs for their henhouse for added income. Henry is fascinated by the honeybees, and he accompanies his aunt whenever possible to watch her work the hives. As Lilla works, she explains the behavior and habits of the bees to Henry, but he's still too young to help. On his own one day during swarm season, Henry puts on her beekeeping suit so he can visit the hives and help the bees discover the swarm box that Lilla has set up. While putting on Lilla's beekeeping suit, Henry spills a bottle of "bee drops" (a mysterious liquid that has a pleasing smell to honeybees) on the suit. The bee drops attract the swarm to the much-too-large suit, and Lilla is able to capture it. It's in this resolution that the story stumbles, as, for all of Lilla's explanations of beekeeping, the bee drops go undefined. The sentimental author's note does not fill in that gap. LaMarche's artwork, a vibrant combination of watercolor and ink, glows and will make many readers want to visit Aunt Lilla's home.Visually lovely and tonally appealing, this book will be best used when additional information is available to help with questions. (Picture book. 6-8)

Kirkus Reviews