Bee-Wigged

by Cece Bell

To bee or not to bee? A lonely, overlarge insect tries a new identity on
for size in a wacky, wonderful tale of true friendship.

All Jerry Bee wants is to make friends, but that's hard to do when you're the most enormous bee anyone has ever seen. Then a wig changes Jerry's when he puts it on, he looks just like a boy! Jerry creates quite a buzz with his kindness and generosity, and for the first time, he has friends. But will his new pals stick around when his true identity is revealed? In this zany and tender tale, written and illustrated by Cece Bell, Jerry finds that having friends you can "bee" yourself around is as sweet as honey.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Humor, Storytime, School, Juvenile

40 pages, Hardcover

First published November 25, 2008

About the author

I'm an author and an illustrator, and sadly not a jazz pianist. I live in an old church in the hills of Virginia with my husband, author Tom Angleberger. I work right next door in a new-ish barn. I've written and illustrated a bunch of books for kids and was lucky enough to get a Geisel Honor for one of 'em. If you want to know more about my hearing loss or my childhood (or both), check out my first graphic novel, El Deafo. It's only slightly fictionalized, honest! I'm at www.cecebell.com if you want to see more weird stuff.

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bell has a bizarre sense of humor. A giant bee that wants to fit in as a human (for some reason) gets a wig and suddenly passes as a human (just go with it. . . ). But (spoiler alert) the bee and we later find out that the bee is not a wig, but a really hairy guinea pig (wait! how did we not SEE this?!), who becomes a friend.

I know, it makes no sense, but Harry (10) ran up the stairs laughing to tell me it was a 5 star book for him, and to relate the whole plot to me and insist I read it. Bell doesn't really care so much what I think of it. She would want to know what Harry thinks, though. So I bumped up my rating a notch because of Harry.

[Damien Cowger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet lesson on why people shouldn't be judgy. Especially when a homie rocks a hairpiece.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, what’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve heard lately? How about a bee, wearing a toupee, who is mistaken for a child? That makes my recently ridiculous top five. In “Bee-Wigged” Cece Bell (author/illustrator of the “Sock Monkey” titles) provides a fat dollop of silliness sour cream atop a baked potato of truth - that it can be hard to find your niche when you’re different.

Jerry Bee does the opposite of fit in. Not only is he a bee (strike one), but he’s also a giant bee (we’ll skip right to “you’re out!”). We’re talking person-sized insect here. When you’re a giant bee out in public, folks tend to avoid you. Or scream and run. One day Jerry finds a wig on the side of the road and decides to try it on. The results are astounding. The disguise works, and people begin to see Jerry as a normal kid. Well, not just normal - exceptional. Everyone loves Jerry. It turns out that he’s funny and artistic and helpful. Jerry Bee is so beloved that he is asked to grand marshall the annual school parade. When our hero’s wig is blown off by a gust of wind, Jerry quickly realizes that his day in the sun may be over. That is, until his wig starts talking. I mentioned ridiculous, right?

The bright, unfussy ink and acrylic illustrations pair nicely with the storyline. The goofiness of the plot is mirrored in the stubby, neckless (or should I say neck-free) rendering of the characters.

“Bee-Wigged” will check off a number of boxes in your collection:

√ Solid read aloud choice

√ A good pick for “I’m looking for a funny book” kids

√ A “be yourself” book with kid appeal

A trifecta which makes this one a quality selection.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cece Bell writes that "Jerry's story is very much my own story--in school, I hoped that if I wowed people with kindness, they would see beyond my weirdness and befriend me. It worked!" The delight is in the details, in this story about an enormous bumble bee (which in real life are not much interested in stinging you but can do a lot of damage if you really provoke them) who is lonely because everyone runs away from him all the time. He finds what looks like a wig and puts it on, and is mistaken for a boy. He becomes very popular...until....his true identity is discovered. Ultimately, he is accepted just for who he is, a nice lesson for a kid's story, especially for kids who don't quite fit in perfectly.

[Villa Park Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

People are buzzing about their distaste for the bee… and nobody feels the sting of hurt quite like Jerry, who only wants to make friends. One day, Jerry decides to wear a wayside wig and gets mistaken for a boy on his way to school instead of a bee. With this disguise, Jerry is able to experience a life of acceptance rather than avoidance. But what happens when the disguise is gone? This is a sweeter-than-honey story about what can happen when you challenge misconceptions and embrace the true you.

Check this book out at the Villa Park Public Library!

[Ellie Abrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely story of an endearing bee called Jerry, that is giant and so has no friends. In his attempt to make new friends, Jerry finds a wig that disguises hum as an 'ordinary' boy, so that he is able to prove how kind and friendly he is to all at the school. This is an excellent story to share with children, perhaps as part of PSHE, to encourage friendship and accepting one another differences.

[Heather Gunnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Staff Pick
Alexis

All Jerry Bee wants is to make friends, but it's hard because he is a giant bee! One day Jerry finds a wig on the ground and puts it on. That wig changed his life! People were no longer scared of him because he was just another kid. This is a hilarious story of kindness and acceptance. it will not only make you laugh out loud, but also teach you a valuable lesson on friendship.

E BEL

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This silly title will engage young readers and listeners with its simple, bright illustrations and familiar story. Many will easily recognize the plea to accept others as they are instead of making snap decisions. Beyond that it doesn't have a lot to offer. I recommend it as an additional purchase only for school libraries.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh if only it were that easy. But too often, when someone realizes that their friend is hiding something about themselves, they not only run away, but sometimes even turn on them. Still, if it gets kids thinking, that's great... and judging by the wear & tear on my library copy, it's popular enough to have a chance to reach receptive kids & families.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was bizarre and I loved it. A human-sized bee is sick of people being scared of him. Luckily all it takes is a wig for humans to be convinced he's a person. The humor is very self-aware which very much appealed to me, and I thought the illustrations were both silly and sweet.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just needed to make sure this book had good reviews in here. Was discussing what an amazing story book it is with my kid who is now ten.. Found it once in a charity shop and read it so many times when my three were little.

[Kelly Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not see the surprise coming.

[Shamika Fusco · Rating 3 out of 5]

KInda cool. It had a few puns that make you laugh. His experiences are cool and make you feel connected to him!

[Erika Olvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story about friendship and being proud to be YOU! Our 2nd grade class loved the wig surprise! LOTS of laughs with a great lesson.

[Rebecca Caufman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aw, the poor bee just wants a friend but no one wants a giant bee for a friend until Jerry finds a wig!

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this book took an unexpected turn. SPOILER: The wig isn't actually a wig, it is a guinea pig! An overall cute story about befriending even the most unlikely of "people" in your life.

[Lisa Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this story about judging people by their actions, not their appearance

[Shannonmde]

From the book jacket — “Jerry’s story is very much my own story — in school, I hoped that if I wowed people with kindness, they would see beyond my weirdness and befriend me. It worked!”

[Lisa K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most excellent story of a bee named Jerry who just wants a friend. One day he finds a wig, goes to school, and makes all kinds of friends. There's even a surprise friend at the very end!

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

March family storytime bug themed

[Kelly Strenge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute book. My students loved it!

[The Book Box]

I love bumblebees, and thought this book was really fun! My mom read it to me, and she thought it was really funny too.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never thought I wanted to see a bee wear a toupee, then this book happened, and my life is forever changed.

[Mary Crockett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cece Bell has done the near impossible task of creating a book that is equally loved by children, parents, teachers, and (I suspect) really big bees. The story of Jerry Bee and his heroic bid for social acceptance teaches (without being all "teach-y") young readers to look beyond the stripes on someone's outside to find the bee-auty within. I'll be very surprised if Ms. Bell doesn't win an award for this funny and socially relevant book.

Heartwarming, quirky, and profound. Not to mention hilarious!

This is one your child will want to read again and again -- and so will you!

[D'Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this to Stacy and my soon-to-be-born son last night. A very strange but cute story about friendship and accepting people (or, well, bees) who are different. Con: teaches kids that putting on wigs they find on the sidewalk is okay. This is not okay. Children: do not put on wigs you get from the sidewalk. Probably most things you find on the sidewalk shouldn't go on your head. Just sayin'. Cece Bell is a great children's author. Her Sock Monkey series is the best.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A massive bee wears a wig, is mistaken for a schoolboy and becomes a pillar of its local community. When the wig slips, the scales fall from onlookers' eyes and the bee looks certain to be lynched. A sentimental speech about tolerance sways the mob, though, and the bee behemoth is saved. Perhaps the least surprising thing in a town that mistakes a giant bee for a schoolboy is that the speech is made by the wig and that's actually an unkempt Peruvian guinea pig.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you are a very large bee, nobody gets close enough to you long enough to realize what a great friend you can be. Wearing a wig, Jerry passes as a boy and finally makes loads of friends, until the wind blows off his wig in the school parade. A story about not judging others by the way they look.

[Gwen the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the laugh-out-loud story of Jerry the Bee who loved people and dressed up like a person to make friends. When it is discovered that he is really a bee, the kids learn to accept that they like him for who he really is, not what he looks like. There is a funny surprise plot twist after Jerry's wig falls off. :) Fun, colorul illustrations.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jerry Bee loved people. But people were frightened of him (he is a GIANT bee after all!)But when finds a wig, he starts to blend in with people! He goes to school and makes lots of friends. But then one day in the parade, the wig is blown right off his head! The wig turns out to be a guinea pig and points out to everyone that while Jerry might be a bee, he is also a great person.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lonely bee disguises himself with a wig and makes a bunch of friends - until the wig falls off. A great save ending and the silly humor make this a charmer - and I loved jerry bee's big roundness. While a fun read, it would also be a good way to discuss differences and acceptance and friendship.