Colette: The Solitary Bee

by Jean-François Sénéchal, Pascale Bonenfant (illustrator)

Petite abeille solitaire, Colette sait tout faire par elle-même, si bien qu’elle n’a besoin de personne. Mais lorsqu’elle part à l’aventure, Colette se retrouve confrontée à des situations où l’entraide s’avère essentielle. Grâce à ses nouvelles amitiés, elle surmonte toutes les difficultés et réalise des exploits incroyables!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Nature

44 pages, Hardcover

Published May 13, 2025

About the author

Né au milieu des livres, Jean-François écrit pour les jeunes et les moins jeunes. Après des études en anthropologie et quelques textes sur Haïti, il retourne à ses premières amours et se consacre à la littérature. Il est le récipiendaire de plusieurs récompenses, notamment le Prix Jeunesse des libraires du Québec pour Au carrefour (2019) et le prix Gouverneur général du Canada pour Les avenues (2021). Son roman Le boulevard figure sur la liste d’honneur 2018 de l’International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). En 2017, il a reçu du Conseil des arts du Canada le Prix Joseph-S.-Stauffer en littérature.

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was featured in BookPage and we just had to have it in honor of our workmate Colette! Colette the bee is pretty close in character to her. Very creative and liking her alone time! Ha ha ha ha ha
Very lovely. The Colette in the book and our Colette are both wonderful storytellers. This book has the cutest illustrations, also a reminder of how cute Colette's illustrations are that she creates!

[Chantal HK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prêts pour une balade en nature aux proportions miniatures? Je vous présente Colette, un insecte pas piqués des vers qui est en vedette dans cet album de Comme des Géants.
Elle évolue dans un univers visuel coloré, vivant, foisonnant de vie et de détails savoureux et magnifiques. Les habitants de cet univers sont vraiment adorables, pleins de vie et d'expressions. Une sarabande de petites bêtes attachantes dans une végétation luxuriante et variée.

Pour Colette, l'abeille solitaire qui sait tout faire et qui n'a besoin de personne, ce sera au travers de l'entraide que le monde prendra son sens. En demandant de l'aide, ou surtout en rendant service, cette super vedette se retrouvera au contact des autres et réalisera que l'important, dans ses aventures, ce ne sont pas les exploits ou les records battus; mais bien les rencontres. S'opérera alors un changement radical, au point qu'elle recommencera son récit du début, avec une approche bien différente que celle de la première version.

Un album sublime, touchant, magnifiquement écrit et illustré ou la vie est belle et les perceptions remises en question.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colette is a bee who likes to be alone – and she’s very proud of all that she can do by herself. She’s happy living alone in her little underground tunnel, and also enjoys adventures through the forest and in all kinds of weather. But sometimes things don’t go as planned and Colette has to ask for help.

The story is told through through brief descriptive text with a combination of full bleed pages and facing pages of three or four graphic panels. This arrangement slows down the pace and allows tension to build. With the page turn, there’s also humor as readers notice the details, such as how Colette gets out of tricky situations by, you guessed it, help from others. The many friendly bug denizens include worms, snails, fireflies, beetles and more. These very cute round neighbors and their lush green habitat are rendered in a naïve style of cartoon art that is very pleasing to the eye. Little ones who are pleased with what they have learned to do in the world will recognize a kindred spirit in Colette.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colette, a whimsical bee, and her adventures solo and then she decides to let others into her life, including a worm, a firefly, and a snail, among other garden creatures. She realizes her life is enriched with friends! PS: I love the illustrations so much, they are colorful, cozy, playful, and stylized/unique, just delightful addition to a solid story.

Themes: bees, friendship, adventures
Ages: preK-1st grade
Pub year: 2025

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute illustrations. Colette is an introverted bee who enjoys being alone and only depending on herself. She goes on an adventure, meets lots of new bugs, and learns that sometimes she needs to depend on others, but in the end, she is happy to return to her home, but to also associate more with the people around her. I think there might be a point in this book that I completely missed.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute bee thinks she doesn't need anyone but then goes on an adventure and meets other kind, helpful bugs. She gets home and realizes that she likes meeting other bugs and that it was the best part of the trip. I liked the style of illustrations. The story was fine.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

How does one balance the needs for solitude and socialization? Colette seems to have found some satisfying answers. Whimsical illustrations show how the busy little bee strikes the right balance between me and we.

[Élise Massé · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'essaye encore de comprendre comment je me suis autant identifiée à Colette 😅 C'était cute comme histoire, le duo JF Sénéchal et Pascale Bonenfant est magique. 👌🏻

[Elle Kerrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colette is the cutest bee I ever did see

[LinLin]

Beginning of school year book idea: we can do things alone but not always

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's one of those books that feels written for adults more than children. Very cute, but I can't see myself reading it to a group of kiddos.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the translation- it is cute story of a bee who learns that solitude has it'splace, but sometimes it is nice to be with others.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25*

[Juli Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quirky but cute. Adorable illustrations and a rhythmic structure make up for whatever is lost in translation here.

[Tracy Mabry · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute! And I can totally relate to that little bee!

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this illustration style, and I like the message of a bee who is solitary but also helps her friends, isn’t scared to ask for help, and has a close group of neighbors.

[lil4 · Rating 5 out of 5]

ADORABLE..... j'aimerai être elle

[lanna :3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved the art style of this one !

[Lolita Tardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colette elle est trop chouette