The Bee Tree

by Patricia Polacco

When Mary Ellen gets bored with her reading, Grandpa knows a hunt for a bee tree is just what she needs. Half the town joins the exciting chase, but it's not until everyone returns home that Mary Ellen makes a discovery of her Sometimes, even the sweetest of things must be worked for.

* "Polacco has created another charming picture book featuring a child learning from a grandparent in an idyllic pastoral setting . . . Both the writing and artwork are fresh and inviting." -- School Library Journal , starred review

"The newest gem from Polacco's treasure chest of family stories extols the virtue of reading--and of taking a study break . . . Like Mary Ellen, readers will emerge refreshed from this respite, ready to seek out new adventures." -- Publishers Weekly

"Young readers will savor this." -- The Horn Book

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Fiction, Nature, Animals, Historical Fiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published April 21, 1993

About the author

Patricia Polacco is a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator with around seventy beloved and award-winning books to her credit, including The Keeping Quilt, Pink and Say, The Blessing Cup, Chicken Sunday, and Thank You, Mr. Falker. She resides in Michigan.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet story about how a little girl learns to get honey with her grandfather. Really made me think about how important it is to spend time with your family. I would have liked to spend more time with both my grandparents; but distance and family drama prevent it from happening. This book made me a little sad to think about how much I missed out on.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, this story was a hoot! It’s so much fun to read aloud (and to read to oneself too.)

The story ends up being a paean to reading and to books. Getting there is a fun romp – one person, group, animal after another goes off chasing bees back to their trees in pursuit of sweet honey. I absolutely love the illustrations of the Grampa running with his granddaughter and picking up others along the way.

There’s a bit of a moral to the story but it’s not at all heavy handed, and since I agree with it, I had no problems with it at all.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based upon the stories of her own mother's childhood in rural Michigan, Patricia Polacco's The Bee Tree is an engaging tale of a girl and her grandfather's search for a bee tree, and the honey to be found therein. When Mary Ellen declares that she is tired of reading, her Grampa decides that it might be time for a bee tree hunt, in which one captures a few honey-bees in a jar, releases them one by one, and follows them to the source. As Mary Ellen and Grampa tear across the countryside in hot pursuit, a variety of community members join the chase...

Although I cannot say that this is one of my favorite Polacco picture-books - I just didn't feel the same kind of emotional connection to it, that I did to titles like The Lemonade Club , read at the same time, or to Thank You, Mr. Falker - I can see that it would make an entertaining read-aloud. I also appreciated the "lesson" that Grampa works into the adventure. All in all, one I would recommend to fellow Patricia Polacco fans!

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a strange, but fun tale about a group of people who run after a bee in search of its nest, in order to get some fresh honey. The various names are odd and, along with the cumulative nature of the tale and the repetitive onomatopoeia, the story is fun to read aloud.

I love how the grandfather explains that reading books can be as much of an adventure as the hunt for the bee tree. At the end of the story, Mary Ellen becomes an avid reader, and any book that shows children loving to read are a hit with me!

We've read many of Patricia Polacco's books and are always looking for ones we haven't yet read. While this isn't our favorite of her tales, we enjoyed reading it aloud together. We will certainly look for more of her stories at our local library.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bored with her reading, Grandpa takes Mary Ellen on a hunt for the bee tree. After the honey has been located and shared with friends, Grandpa spoons some honey onto the cover of a book and says "Taste."

"There is such sweetness inside of that book too!" he said thoughtfully. "Such things . . . adventure, knowledge, and wisdom. But these things do not come easily. You have to pursue them. Just like we ran after the bees to find their tree, so you must also chase these things through the pages of a book!"

Of course I adored the "moral" of hard-work and the treasures to be found in reading but I'm not sure young kids will fully appreciate the themes. Nevertheless, they are sure to enjoy the sound-filled chase with the ever-growing crowd.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books stars a young girl named Mary Ellen that is spending time with her grandpa. Her grandpa likes to read but Mary Ellen gets bored with reading very quickly. The grandpa then suggests they go hunting to find some bees. While the grandpa and Mary Ellen start chasing the bees’ different people from the town decide to join in. This story is very witty, and the pictures make your imagination go wild. The colors and facial expressions of the towns’ people are priceless and you really feel what they are feeling. At the end of the story they get to the honey and they all have some. I feel that the moral of the story was that in order to get things in life you have to work for it. One quote that stuck out to me the most was when the grandpa said “ such things…. adventure, knowledge, and wisdom. But these things do not come easily. You have to pursue them. Just like we ran through the pages of a book!” I feel like this book is very fun and a great life lesson for any child!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice story with a moral. A girl is tired of reading a book, so her grandfather takes her out to chase a bee. Others join in the fun and they reach the beehive. The get some of the honey and have a little party. Then the grandfather explains that the sweetness of honey is like the sweetness of a book.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s hard to admit, but I have never read this book. I think if I still had my own class I would use it for the beginning of conversations about reading, or for sometime in the first week of school. A little girl named Mary Ellen says she’s tired of reading and her grandpa says that it must be time to hunt for a bee tree. They find a few bees and collect them safely in a jar, let one out and the chase is on! Others met along the way add to the hunt which makes the story so delightful. They find the tree and you’ll have to read the rest of the story to discover the ending that circles right back to reading. Polacco’s stories and her illustrations are so filled with joy and energy, I want to jump right into the action. Sweet story!

[Nicolette Roehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Bee Tree” is about a young girl named Mary Ellen who is spending time with her grandpa. Grandpa loves to read but Mary Ellen is bored of reading. Seeing how bored Mary Ellen is grandpa suggests they go on an adventure and hunt some bees. While tracking down the bees, Mary Ellen and her grandpa are joined by various townspeople. The story is amusing and the pictures unleash the imagination. The colors and details of facial expressions make you really feel what the different characters are feeling throughout the story. The lesson learned from this story is one about working hard for the things you want in/out of life. The fun filled story is a great life lesson for both children and adults alike.

[The Reading Countess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminiscent of many of the read alouds my sons and I relished in their toddler years where every page meant someone would join in on whatever fun or trouble that was brewing, Polacco's The Bee Tree takes readers on a similar journey. This time, though, we visit a time long ago and far away and meet names and customs we don't often see nowadays. And we are all the better for it. Quietly tucked into the last few pages is a love letter to the importance of reading.

"...There is such sweetness inside of that book too...such tings...adventure. knowledge and wisdom. But these things do not come easily. You have to pursue them, Just like we ran after the bees to find their trees, so you must also chase these things through the pages of a book!"

[Sunday · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Mary Ellen and Grampa go chasing after bees to discover their honey, a group of friends and neighbors join them. While the focus of this story is how the collection of sweet honey does not come easily just like learning to read does not, children can also infer how Polacco has incorporated bee facts into the story. These facts include the long distances field bees fly and the use of smoke to mask the pheromones bees release when danger is nearby.

This would make a good read aloud in the primary grades as part of an integrated unit on the life cycle of bees and related environmental issues. This can be paired with a nonfiction text.

[Sherry Elmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading this book out loud. The characters are wonderful, their voices enticing, the adventure is great fun, and the lesson Grandpa leaves Mary Ellen with at the end is one not to be missed. Join Mary Ellen, Grandpa, and their quirky, lovable neighbors in their quest for the bee tree and give your children--and yourself--a delightful time in their company. You'll be glad you did.

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wild story that had my children almost falling off the couch in laughter. Then, when we reached the second to last page, my voice caught in my throat as I read it aloud to them. What a sweet (pun intended), unexpected ending to this charming story. Definitely a must-read to all children.

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A whimsical tale about a bee finding adventure, which a wise grandfather uses to teach his grand daughter about the importance of practice and perseverance in learning. The story is complimented by some silliness and a plethora of vivid drawings. Highly recommended.

[Emmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a charming little story about a bored little girl and her loving grandfather. While my grandparents probably would not have taken me on an adventure quite like this one, I have many fond memories of spending time with them, playing games, visiting new places, and trying new things, such as strawberry picking or gin rummy. Reading this book made me very happy.

[Meredith Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:
One day Mary Ellen tells her grandpa she is tired of reading and would rather go outside and run. Because she says this he takes her on a great adventure to find a bee tree. The whole town sees them and joins them on this journey of chasing the bees to the tree. At the end of the day everyone gathers to enjoy the honey they gathered from the tree. Pulling Mary Ellen aside, her grandpa explains how the sweetness of the honey they found can also be found in books. He compares the adventure they went on that day to the adventures that can be experienced in books and from then on Mary Ellen learned to love reading.

Major Theme:
The main theme in this book is that there are adventures to be found within books that can be just as exciting as going on an adventure yourself.

Personal Connection:
I loved reading this book because it emphasizes what reading is to me. I love to read because of the adventures I find in books and sometimes people who don't have that same love of reading don't understand that. I think this book does a good job showing how exciting reading can be if you work hard at it.

Why I Recommend:
I would recommend this book to children who are having a hard time with reading. I think when you are young and reading does not come easily, it is hard to see the point of it. If children are shown that there are adventures waiting to be experienced in books then it might encourage them to keep working at it.

[Aiyana Martinez · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this exciting book, a child spends a day with her grandfather. Her grandfather starts off reading to her but she surprisingly jumps up and decides to tell her grandfather that she does not want to read. Next her grandfather decides to take her outside to the bee tree to get some honey. As they decide to chase a bee to the bee tree, on their way chasing the bee, they run into people in town and join them on the adventure. Soon enough they end their adventure with sharing honey with town with yummy biscuits. After their adventure with chasing the bee and eating, her grandfather brings her inside puts a little honey on her book and says wise words of reading.


-The text of this book is very small yet details the story very well. It lets you see whose speaking and what exactly is going on with the story. For example when the girl says how she doesn't want to read or when someone in town wants to join in the adventure with them.

-The illustration is very modern and almost looks like sketched/watercolors. It seems very detailed.

-At the end of the book that I really enjoyed was what the grandfather said to his granddaughter. I was not expecting a lesson to be learned out of this book, but I enjoyed it and it really tied the whole book together. great book.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bee Tree is another example of Patricia Polacco's ability to captivate readers and remind them why reading is such a treasure. The story follows a young girl, Mary Ellen, and her grandfather on their adventure through their town to chase the bees to their tree. As they continue their chase neighbors, animals, and friends join in on the adventure. They ultimately retrieve some honey from the bee tree. Upon arriving home, Mary Ellen learns from her grandfather how knowledge from a story is similar to the sweetness of the honey from their adventure. The colorful illustrations captivate the reader. From the black and white photographs in the background to the lively sketches of the characters, the reader can't help but become absorbed into Polacco's world. The main characters, Mary Ellen and her grandfather, are quite likeable. Mary Ellen is relatable, while the grandfather comes across as cheery and warm. Polacco has created another book that reminds the reader why the passion for reading is contagious.

[Alycia Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Bee Tree, a grandfather and his granddaughter set out to get honey. The granddaughter was tired of reading and wanted to do something active. The grandfather knew just what to do, and that was to set off to get honey. The granddaughter and grandfather set off to find bees, catch them in a jar, let one go, and chase after the one bee they let go. When running after the bee, following him to the tree with all of the honey, they had many people follow on the path. Once everyone is gone, the grandfather informs his granddaughter how important it is to chase things through books, like they chased the bee to get honey. This book was amazing in my eyes! I feel as though this is a story young children will enjoy listening to, because it makes the reader want the characters to find the honey. I also feel as though this book will be good for young children to listen to or read, for the mere fact that it almost makes you feel as if you are in the story chasing after the same bee. This book is almost inspirational to me, personally.

[Sadie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patricia Polacco's "The Bee Tree" is a story that keeps your adrenaline running as fast as the characters in the book! I read this book because the title sounded interesting. The cover illustration just has so much going on that I knew the book must have so much going on as well. It's about a child named Mary Ellen who is disinterested in reading, so her grandfather takes her on a wild chase for honey to increase her interest. They capture bees, set them free, and embark on a chaotic journey to find the home of the bees (hence the bee tree). As they chased the bees they captured, I was just as excited as Mary Ellen to discover where they would lead them! You may be asking how chasing bees in search of honey relates in any way, shape, or form to reading. To find out that answer, you'd have to read the book yourself. The answer you will discover is so powerful, so beautiful, and so very true.

[Logan Draper · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bee Tree is an exciting book about a young girl, Mary Ellen, who is tired of reading, and her grandpa, who takes her on an adventure to find a bee tree. Mary Ellen and her grandfather capture, and then follow bees through each page of the book, picking up townspeople that want to embark on the adventure along the way. Finally, they find the bee tree, and everyone enjoys the delicious honey that it contains. Mary Ellen then talks with her grandfather, and he explains to her that reading can be just as fun and exciting as the adventure she just went on to find the bee tree. This book would be great to read to fourth and fifth graders to help promote reading, and maybe reignite an interest in reading for some of the students. The fun and intriguing pursuit for the bee tree, and the corresponding watercolor illustrations will grab the student’s attention, and grasp it throughout the entire book. I also think that this book would be a great introduction to a lesson on beekeeping.

[Isabelle Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book of a girl, Mary Ellen, and her grandfather. Her grandfather loves to read, but Mary Ellen doesn't. Her grandfather decides that they should go hunting for a bee, and follow it to it's hive to get fresh honey. It's an adventurous story, with a moral of "knowledge is sweet, like honey" and shows that just like you have to work and hunt for honey, you have to do the same with knowledge. Personally I like this book as it kind of shows some background not only on Polacco's life, but also on her family, and this book makes to be a prequel to Thank You, Mr. Falker (which I read before this one), as in the end, you realize that Mary Ellen is Polacco's mother! It is written in a way that seems like someone is just telling you a story, and the illustrations pair perfectly with the story, per usual. A great story to have, and to read to children who don't particularly enjoy reading, as well as just to read to themselves for enjoyment.

[Kelsi Mika · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bee Tree is about a girl and her grandfather who go on an adventure in order to seek out a bee tree. In the beginning the grandfather offers to read a story to the girl, but she doesn't want to because it is "boring" and she wants to do something else. Her grandfather then mentions going to look for a bee tree. As they chase after the bees that they have, others in the community join in to have a good time!

Patricia Polacco is able to create a light and exciting atmosphere every time a new person joins their quest for the bee tree. There are a bunch of flat characters as they don't have very much to them other than the girl and her grandfather who are round characters. However, the girl is dynamic as she changes her views by the end of the story. The images depicted the setting very well and complemented the text. Something that was very enjoyable was the fact that the text created sound and the images portrayed where it was coming from, causing the story to come to life.

[Nicole Prescott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book and think it would be a great way to show students that reading can be fun if you let it, just like Mary Ellen learned from her grandpa. He took her on a "bee tree hunt" and they followed bees (that grandpa let out from a jar). Lots of people joined in on their adventure and were chasing the bee all around the country side until they eventually found it. Then all of the guests and Mary Ellen and grandpa had a big party and ate all of the honey they collected from the tree. Later on, grandpa explained to Mary Ellen how reading can be just as fun of an adventure as their bee chase if she would allow it. She then began to read and learned to love it. This would be a good book for students to read to help engage and interest them in reading and show them how fun and exciting it can be. I would read or let students in grade 1-4 read this book.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Mary Ellen is tired of reading and wants to go outdoors running and playing, her grampa offers to help her find a bee tree. They go outside, catch a few bees in a jar, then let one out and start running after it. Soon a whole crowd of people and animals joins them in their chase. As they lose sight of the first bee, they set free a second, and the final third bee leads them to the hive in the bee tree. They all share honey and biscuits at an impromptu party. Mary Ellen learns a final lesson as Grandpa spoons a little honey onto the cover of her book and has her lick it off. "There is such sweetness inside of that book too! . . . Such things . . . adventure, knowledge, and wisdom. But these things do not come easily. You have to pursue them. Just like we ran after the bees to find their tree, so you might also chase these things through the pages of a book!"

[Angel Romero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Mary Ellen is not enjoying reading at home with grandpa. Grandpa invites Mary Ellen to find a Bee Tree. A whole adventures turns out from the hunt. At the end of the book Ellen understand that through books she can feel that whole adventure and many more.
Reaction: This book is ideal for fourth graders. There are times when you do not want to read. This book helps children understand that everyone goes through this. While reading the book I thought about adventures that I have had with my grandparents. They fill your life with advice.
Literature Terms: Plot.
What stuck out the most out of the book was the plot. While on the bee tree hunt many people join Mary Ellen and her Grandpa.
Activity: One activity to do with students is during reading create a partner prediction session. Students can predict what will happen with all the characters joining Ellen on the hunt.

[Scot Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bee Tree
Patricia Polacco

Fun book about an elderly man taking his granddaughter to find a honeycomb to retrieve honey. They capture some bees and release on to follow. The pair sets out and attracts the attention of people wanting to join them as they progress on their journey. As the bees disappear and another is released and the chase continues. Sounds of the followers help make this book fun for both the reader and listener.

The crowd are fairly flat characters and the granddaughter and grandpa are round, changing and emotional as they race to the tree. The mood of the book is happy, excited and anxious. The text and pictures go hand in hand to describe the adventure to its fullest. Reading the sound effects gives the reader and opportunity to keep the listener's attention and draw them into the story. No spoilers, but a good moral at the end.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

rating: 3.5

Polacco's mother (Mary Ellen) must have talked about going on a bee hunt with her grandfather. PP listened carefully and recounts the story here.

Now I want to catch some bees and follow them back to their bee tree. Something tells me it won't be as easy as it sounds. I've only found a bee tree once, and that was on the plains of Eastern Colorado, in the middle of a cottonwood grove.

(The end of the tale connects the honey with the 'sweetness of reading.' Nice idea, but it struck me as a little odd.)

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read to 5th graders

I've been reading one Patricia Polacco book per week to a 5th grade class taught by a friend. She is a Michigan author and a particular favorite of ours. Today, the kids shared some facts they had looked up about Polacco and we had a conversation about her.

"The Bee Tree" is a favorite Polacco book. Mary Ellen is bored with reading so her Grampa takes her on an adventure to find a bee tree. He gets a few bees in a jar, then releases one and they begin following it to its "Bee Tree". By the time Mary Ellen and her Grampa get to the Bee Tree, they have been joined by friends, neighbors, goats, and even a goose! The story is a wonderful reminder of the special relationship between children and their grandparents and of the "sweetness" of a good story!

[Deidra Chamberlain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved all the characters and the rhythm of it. Excellent read aloud