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Jam & Honey
A little girl is on her way to gather berries, berries to make jam when she gets home. A little bee is on its way to gather nectar, nectar to make honey for her honeycomb. Their meeting in the same berry patch shines a gentle light on a common childhood fear from two points of view. This picture book provides a sweet way to convey even to the youngest child the importance of understanding and respecting all creatures.
From the Hardcover edition.
From the Hardcover edition.
32 pages, Library Binding
First published January 25, 2011
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
February 22, 2025
On the way to pick for berries for jam, a young girl tells of her quest. On his was to collect nectar for honey a bee tells of his quest. As each share their adventure in rhyme, the meet up at the same location in the park, and both overcome their fear of each other.
December 13, 2021
Told in two separate parts - the girl and the bee - we see them gather berries/nectar to take home and make jam/honey. Rhyming text, watercolor pencil pictures. A nice story but nothing special, it could be used to discuss different perspectives of the same event.
June 21, 2018
A two-part book that sweetly encourages empathy on the part of both human and honeybee. We can share the garden even if we are a bit scared of each other.
July 20, 2018
This is a cute book. The poetry adds to the story and makes bees cute!
March 8, 2017
Two perspectives on the same day in the park.
3/7/17 Read with Naomi & Julia.
3/7/17 Read with Naomi & Julia.
February 16, 2011
This quiet, gentle book tells the story of a visit to an urban berry patch from two points of view, a girl and a bee. The girl is headed to the berry patch to pick berry to make into jam. Her big worry is running into bees, which she does. But she remembers what her mother told her about staying still and that the bee was interested in nectar not in her. The bee is heading to the berry patch for nectar to make into honey. He is worried about running into a human there, which he does. But he remembers that humans are interested in the berries, so he just flies past. This parallel story offers a glimpse of urban gardening and emphasizes the importance of our food and other creatures.
Morales has written the book in a verse format that has enough rhyme to make it friendly and bouncy. There is a rather jaunty tone to the book, making the encounter with the bee less scary than it could have been. The emphasis is on making food, whether it is by the girl or the bee. The two halves of the book are written in very similar verse, often repeating patterns from the earlier one. This ties the two stories together even more firmly.
Bryant’s art makes sure that the reader knows that the book is set in an urban setting without covering it in graffiti or garbage. Instead, we see a warm friendly neighborhood filled with flowers, pigeons, and bees. She imbues the illustrations with a natural feel, always having the reader look past greenery and through plants.
A great pick for insect units or story times or ones about food. It could also happily be used as a late summer story when the berries are plump and ripe. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Morales has written the book in a verse format that has enough rhyme to make it friendly and bouncy. There is a rather jaunty tone to the book, making the encounter with the bee less scary than it could have been. The emphasis is on making food, whether it is by the girl or the bee. The two halves of the book are written in very similar verse, often repeating patterns from the earlier one. This ties the two stories together even more firmly.
Bryant’s art makes sure that the reader knows that the book is set in an urban setting without covering it in graffiti or garbage. Instead, we see a warm friendly neighborhood filled with flowers, pigeons, and bees. She imbues the illustrations with a natural feel, always having the reader look past greenery and through plants.
A great pick for insect units or story times or ones about food. It could also happily be used as a late summer story when the berries are plump and ripe. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
October 22, 2012
Jam & Honey by Melita Morales is reminiscent of Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey. Instead of a girl and a bear, it's girl and bee. But the goal is the same again: collecting food for the winter.
The first half of this rhyming tale is told from the point of view of the girl who is hunting for berries. She and her mother will be making jam. The girl picks berries from an urban berry patch, one of those community run gardens that are gaining popularity.
The second half is told from the bee she meets while picking berries. The bee repeats a similar rhyme to the girl, except that she is in search of nectar for honey. The bee, like the bear cub, is just as nervous about the girl as she is of seeing the bee.
The book was a perfect summertime read. It's a time when the farmer's market is going and the local beekeeper is selling locally produced honey. Meanwhile at home we are picking and canning plums from our trees.
The first half of this rhyming tale is told from the point of view of the girl who is hunting for berries. She and her mother will be making jam. The girl picks berries from an urban berry patch, one of those community run gardens that are gaining popularity.
The second half is told from the bee she meets while picking berries. The bee repeats a similar rhyme to the girl, except that she is in search of nectar for honey. The bee, like the bear cub, is just as nervous about the girl as she is of seeing the bee.
The book was a perfect summertime read. It's a time when the farmer's market is going and the local beekeeper is selling locally produced honey. Meanwhile at home we are picking and canning plums from our trees.
June 26, 2012
A young girl collecting berries and a bee seeking nectar sense danger when they come face-to-face. Despite this, the two manage to gather from the same vines safely and then head on their way. Told in rhyming verse from the perspective of the girl and then the bee, Morales has captured the sense of fear a child might feel around bees and offered another point of view for young listeners to consider.
A good read aloud for pre-K or kindergarten students who are studying the life cycle and importance of bees.
A good read aloud for pre-K or kindergarten students who are studying the life cycle and importance of bees.
April 4, 2011
Beautifully illustrated and related story from two perspectives--first that of a girl out to gather some berries for jam who is startled by a bee but stays calm. Then related by the bee out to gather nectar who is scared by the girl. There is plenty to share and all ends peacefully. This is a good book to reassure children that bees are not vicious stinging divebombing insects but instead serve a purpose in nature and our lives.
November 23, 2011
A tale told from two points of view, that of a little girl hunting for berries and a bee hunting for nectar. Both, we are learn, have a goal, are scared of the other, and realize the other is ultimately not a threat. A very gentle tale. Love the moment when the girl and the bee confront each other.
“One for the bucket and one for me.
One for the bucket and one for---
OH!
It’s a bee,
so loud and near,
but if I just stand still,
there’s nothing to fear.”
“One for the bucket and one for me.
One for the bucket and one for---
OH!
It’s a bee,
so loud and near,
but if I just stand still,
there’s nothing to fear.”
February 4, 2011
The rhyme doesn't quite scan, and that's one of my major pet peeves. Of course it reminded me of Blueberries for Sal! Nice illustrations, but two close-ups seem much stronger than the rest of the images. I did appreciate that they went berry-picking in an urban park instead of the typical farm or rural setting.
May 19, 2011
Every kid should read this story and learn how to act when a bee buzzes by. Your odds of getting stung by this little creature, that is more scared of you then you are of it, would be next to nothing if you just leave her alone. Let her go on to collect her pollen and just observe the wonder that is the bee. Besides honey is yummy goodness! Don't interrupt the honey making process.
June 13, 2011
The book's synopsis is: "Tells the story of a young girl and a honeybee who learn to coexist peacefully in the same garden as they go about their respective tasks". The text reads with about as much excitement as is implied in the synopsis. It's a flat read with rhyming text that has a traditional, tread on feel. The illustrations are also very traditional and expected.
May 16, 2011
I really enjoyed this rhyming book about a little girl and a little bee. The first part of the book is told from the little girl's point of view, and the second part is told from the bee's.
Great illustrations and wonderful reading. A neat book to share with young children!
Great illustrations and wonderful reading. A neat book to share with young children!
June 8, 2011
The author made an adorable story between a young girl and a bee. The story is in two parts, first from the girls perspective, then from the bee. It sends a great message and is written in fun, rhyming prose. Young children will enjoy this!
June 11, 2011
A sweet story that parallels the lives of a child picking berries and a young bee scouting honey. This story is a pleasant and subtle way to teach children to avoid bees or to reassure children who may already be afraid of bees and other small creatures.
November 12, 2011
Really good for perspective... first half of the book is written from the girl's perspective. The second half of the book is written from the perspective of the bumble bee. Each story is written over the same time period so it is good for comparing perspectives as well.
March 30, 2012
A little girl searches for berries to take home and make into jam. A bee searches for nectar to take home and put into its honeycomb. Their meeting in the berry patch provides a gentle lesson in treating all creatures with respect, and looking at things from another's point of view.
January 30, 2013
I would give it a 3.5. Great for teaching about perspectives, and one of the first books I've read that does this. The first half is told from the perspective of a little girl picking berries, the second half is from the bees perspective.
February 16, 2013
I used this in a lesson on character reactions to tie into a 1/2 grade science unit on honeybees, could also be used for perspective. The illustrations and repetition make this engaging for younger students.
January 20, 2011
Gentle, simple, and sweet.
January 30, 2011
A story in two voices, the girl's and the bee's as one gathers berries and the other gathers nectar. Beautifully illustrated. I especially loved the close-ups.
January 30, 2011
A little girl is out picking blueberries and encounters a bee. A bee is flying around looking for nectar. Told from both perspectives.
May 6, 2011
The perfect picture book for teaching point of view.
March 15, 2011
Great book for storytime. It gives the view of berry picking by the child and the bee!! Very cute. Shows great emotion and wonderful verse.
February 15, 2013
Very cute story told from two perspectives. It's been on the shelf over a year though and I think I'm the only one that's read it. :(
June 12, 2011
Hannah loves honey and knowing why we have bees ... perfect book!
July 6, 2011
The story is told from two points of view, that of a girl and of a bee. Cute and fun illustrations only add to this unusual book.
AR 2.6
AR 2.6
September 8, 2011
27 months - a cute book that shows both sides of the story from the girl and the bee's perspective.
November 6, 2011
Rhyming book about jam and honey told from two points of view. Love the concept, but don't love this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews