Sleepy Bee

by John Hutton MD, Sandra Gross

Overview

"The sun is up. The day is new. Hello, Sleepy Bee! Good morning to you.” Sleepy Bee greets her day with a yawn—so much to do! From sunrise to sunset, she visits fields of strawberries, pumpkins, sweet peas, and more, gathering nectar and pollen for her brood. A gentle, rhyming read-aloud with beautiful, full-color, cut paper and watercolor illustrations connecting flower to food, showing how so much of what we eat is made possible by these amazing, hard-working (sometimes sleepy) friends.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781936669868
Publisher:	blue manatee press
Publication date:	04/13/2021
Pages:	14
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 5.50(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 3 Years

About the Author

Dr. John Hutton is a pediatrician and author whose research involves the importance of nurturing real-world experiences to promote early brain development and literacy. Sandra Gross is an artist and educator who has been captivated by bees and pollinators all her life.

Editorial Reviews

2021-07-27
A tired bee flits about, pollinating as she goes.

Let’s talk first impressions: This is one exhausted-looking bee on the cover, with bags under her eyes that make her verge on haggard. Her weary face is somewhat off-putting, and it’s never clear what fatigues her. Does she really find the enthusiastically described tasks of finding “nectar to sip” and “pollen to munch” so onerous? Readers might experience a similar feeling of disquiet when reading the poetry aloud. Yes, the book rhymes, but the couplets have a forced, choppy feel, and the meter is inconsistent from page to page. Though there are bright, informational stanzas with effervescent lines extolling the “yummy, twisty vines of green sweet pea” sprinkled throughout, others like, “At mid-day, when the sun is high. / She zooms to sunflowers nearby” feel flat and even amateurish. Better is the art sitting underneath the superimposed cartoon bee. Big, bright portraits of luscious, labeled veggies, flowers, and fruits, including strawberries, pumpkins, and apples, are eye-catching and just right for very young viewers. Muted collages of garden scenes have an earthy, cut-paper quality and contain enough details of fields and gardens to be interesting but not overwhelming. Bulleted facts on the back cover contain some neat bee facts; though they are too sophisticated for a board-book audience, adults reading with their children may learn a thing or two.

Will not “bee” an essential purchase. (Board book. 1-4)

Kirkus Reviews

“These books work on so many levels, with poetry to hear, pictures to talk about, and a powerful message. They give children just the sort of delightful and mind-expanding experiences they need, while leading parents to see the child’s world through a creative and joyful lens. Wonderful medicine for an overly electronic age!” —Dr. Robert Needlman, MD, associate professor of pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and cofounder, Reach Out and Read, on the Baby Unplugged series

“These are the kinds of books that will bring you and your child together over and over again as you snuggle and read—colorful, welcome additions to your bookshelf.” —Shari Schmidt, OMB (Oh My Books) ChicagoNow blog, on the Baby Unplugged series

“Bright, creative and perfect for young readers just getting introduced to books. Babies and toddlers will love these books as well as the others in the series.” —SocialCafé Magazine, on the Baby Unplugged series


"This book is a beginning of a journey for young children to know and respect the insects we depend on for a healthy environment. The beautiful illustrations are clear and introduce the child to the names of fruit. This is a book to read to your infants and place on your bookshelf for the three-year-old child to read to you!" —Beth Bronsil, retired director, Xavier University Montessori Education Program, former chairperson, American Montessori Society Teacher Education Committee


"An engaging text, plus bright colors from sunup to bedtime add up to a lovely treat just right for small hands." —Louise Borden, author, The Journey That Saved Curious  George

From the Publisher