Swarm of Bees

by Lemony Snicket, Rilla Alexander (Illustrator)

Overview

★ "A witty, thought-provoking triumph."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

From the bestselling author of A Series of Unfortunate Events comes a brilliantly illustrated picture book that takes on big emotions in a rollicking, kid-friendly way.

Whether you're a kid or a bee, sometimes you feel so mad, you buzz around looking for people to sting and trouble to make. See how one boy, a swarm of bees, and a whole town can get riled up and then find a way to feel better through the comfort of unconditional love and community.

Printed in a brilliant palette of primary colors, brimming with beautiful dots and stripes, Rilla Alexander's art sings. Not since David Shannon's No, David! have readers been given the pleasure of witnessing such uproariously terrible behavior, unbridled emotion, and ultimately, such comfort.

"A buzzworthy book that tackles an often negated feeling in a bold new way." —School Library Journal

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316392822
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	04/02/2019
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	11.10(w) x 8.70(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Lemony Snicket had an unusual education and a perplexing youth and now endures a despondent adulthood. His previous published works include All the Wrong Questions, A Series of Unfortunate Event, The Dark, and The Bad Mood and the Stick.

Rilla Alexander is a designer, illustrator, and award-winning picture book maker whose work has appeared on everything from toys and teacups to buses and buildings. Some of her books include The New Rooster, You Rule!, and Jane Yolen's A Bear Sat on My Porch Today.

Hometown:

Snicket is something of a nomad. Handler lives in San Francisco, California.

Date of Birth:

February 28, 1970

Place of Birth:

Handler was born in San Francisco in 1970, and says Snicket's family has roots in a land that's now underwater.

Education:

Handler is a 1992 graduate of Wesleyan University in Connecticut.

Website:

http://www.lemonysnicket.com

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Swarm of Bees

"Mischief-makers will be captivated by its humor and promise of unconditional love and forgiveness.... A witty, thought-provoking triumph."—Kirkus, starred review

"A buzzworthy book that tackles an often negated feeling in a bold new way."—School Library Journal

Praise for The Bad Mood and the Stick:* "Snicket fans will love this book."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Expressive action-filled illustrations [will] make the reader giggle and frown."—School Library Connection, starred review

"Snicket's quirky narrative voice and observations of events both great and lowly make this a fine read aloud—and a sure cure for a bad mood."—Publishers Weekly

"A cheerfully wacky read aloud sure to brighten listeners' moods."—School Library Journal

"This light take on a negative feeling may be useful to adults working with children."—Horn Book

"[The Bad Mood and the Stick] offers a playful way to talk about feelings we've all experienced."—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the Publisher

★ 2019-01-25

An angry kid wreaks havoc until a father's restorative embrace brings love and forgiveness to child and community.

Tomato in hand, spite on his face, a young boy pulls his tomato-laden wagon across the front endpapers, straight for a bees' nest. Readers will delight in the title page's payoff, as the nest sways from the tomato's impact and hostile bees pour forth. Through the town they fly with the boy, gauging possible targets: a sailor and his mother, workers, pets, apartment dwellers. All are considered by the clever narrator, who uses nursery rhyme-esque repetition. But then it's revealed: The boy stung all the targets with his tomatoes! The aggrieved neighbors and bees now chase the child across a map full of tomato-splattered evidence. Acting as a metaphor for the emotional states of the characters, the bees are soon caught and calmed by a beekeeper while the boy is soothed by his father's warm and loving embrace. The artwork, done with ink, rubber stamps, and digital collage, perfectly enhances the text, balancing its emotional depth with comedic beats. Rarely does a design so fully consider how images tell a story from cover to cover, from the swarm leading the eyes to the ingenious use of shapes, color, patterns, negative space, and framing. Mischief-makers will be captivated by its humor and promise of unconditional love and forgiveness; their caregivers will appreciate the exploration of emotions and possible responses.

A witty, thought-provoking triumph. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews