Buzz

by Eileen Spinelli, Vincent Nguyen (Illustrator)

Buzz, a spunky little bumblebee, has a problem flying after coming across the information that bees should not be able to fly. What happens when believing you can’t keeps you from doing what you can? And what will it take to make Buzz gather the courage to fly again? Kids and parents alike will appreciate Buzz’s dilemma—and eventual triumph!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Storytime, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Eileen Spinelli is an award-winning children's book author from southeastern Pennsylvania. She has written over 100 picture books and novels for children. Her husband is Jerry Spinelli, who also writes books for children.

Reviews

[Jane Ries · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover illustration of this book is beautifully eye-catching. I love the emotions expressed by a bee with a child-like face. The story is very original as the bee is innocently enjoying flying until she reads an article about bees written by a professor. I thought that the plot twist might be a little difficult for a child to catch onto, but that is what books are for--to challenge thinking. The bee begins to doubt her ability to fly until an emergency happens and she has to save owl. The story and pictures work well to capture the story of a bee as she goes through an emotive adventure.

[Amberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book up because of the illustration on the cover. It was the best of the illustrations and while I love the quote upon which this book is based the story was just okay for me.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good story about letting other people’s words determine our thinking. Buzz found out from a professor that bees can’t fly. Well, if a professor said it, it must be true. However, she missed the rest of the story.

There’s a lot going well for this book. The illustrations are superb. The story lends itself to good discussion about our self-talk. You could also talk about snail’s response and if it was good or bad. Overall, and enjoyable book worth a read for my book a day list.

[Heather Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

megan spring reading 2017, children's book, picture book, bees, bugs, owls, belief, flying, self-esteem, prek, kindergarten, first grade, second grade,

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many people tell us that we can't do something. I love that this books shows us that when we need to help someone, all things are possible.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Title: Buzz
2. Rating: 4 stars
3. Review: This book's tell shows the fall from identity, and the self-talk and courage it takes the believe in yourself. I gave the book 4 stars because the beginning went into great detail naming all her friends, and then made the fire climax rather abrupt. If it had featured a self-reflective ending, I may have given it five stars!

[Alina Borger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite a predictable and somewhat sacchrine story line, some of the illustrations here are so full of life and personality that I wanted to keep them forever.

[Camille · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm giving away the ending here so skip this paragraph if you're sensitive to that: Cute book about a bee who read in the news that bees can't fly and, just like an episode of hysterical blindness, all of a sudden loses her ability to fly. This continues until her help is needed in an emergency and she saves one of her friends. The end.

I put this in lapsit because I think the pictures are bold and clear enough to read with a baby.
And I put it in self-help because of the overall message: Learning to be confident in oneself and one's ability.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

He LOVES this and has had to read it twice a day since we borrowed it from the library. Overall, I like it, too, but the bee illustrations creep me out a little (why is her face so human? This isn't the case with other animals in the book) and I'm not sure Jonah (age 4) gets the gist of what happened to make the bee think she couldn't fly. Still, I love that the protagonist is female, and the story has a sweet message.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buzz is a hero! I wish I had this book when I was discussing "Hero inside of me" Poor Buzz reads part of a newspaper article (half is missing) by a Professor that says Bee's can't fly. Buzz loves to fly and it breaks her heart to find out she can't fly. But she finds out she can and she saves the day!
Stand up for yourself, and do things people say you can't! If it doesn't hurt anyone else, be the best you!! BUZZZ!!!!

[jess ~has abandoned GR~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated book about believing in yourself, even if others don't.

It is a little long to read cover-to-cover with a pre-k or younger group, but I've found that I can paperclip a few pages together and hop right over them without cutting into the story. I've read this for a few pre-k and younger storytimes, and the kids seem to like it. There are plenty of opportunities to ask them questions about the book and move the plot forward while skipping over some of the text.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buzz loves everything about being a bee, especially flying. But one day she reads a newspaper clip that explains why bees can't fly and, taking to heart what she has read, she loses her ability to fly. It's not until she has to save a friend that she recovers from her loss of confidence in her own abilities. This book provides a great lesson for anyone who works with children.

[Destiny Dawn Long · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the illustrations better than the writing. The story was okay, but pretty predictable. Also, I ended up liking the snail better than Buzz the bee. But, yeah, the oil painting in the illustrations gave them a richness. The size of them also could make this a decent selection for story time with 4-8 year olds.

[Gryphon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the illustrations were cute.

Funny how people and bees will believe what other people tell them, over reality. This poor little bee read that aerodynamically bees should not be able to fly. Then all of a sudden Bee couldn't fly! Fortunately she learns that she really can fly no matter what others say.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This bee loved to fly but when she read a partial article that stated bees could not fly, she immediately could not! Only when a friend needed saving did she rediscover her wings. Kind of reminded me of Dumbo!

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buzz is a bee. Her favorite thing to do is to fly. One day while she is flying a gust of wind blows a scrap of newspaper from under a bench. The headline stops her in her tracks..."Bees Can't Fly" and suddenly, she falls plip to the ground. But a fire helps her find her wings again.

[Relyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Relyn Rating: 3.5 stars

I didn't love this book the way I do many others by Eileen Spinelli. But, I liked it. I also think it would be a great discussion starter for believing in yourself and not listening to anyone who tells you that you can't.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buzz the bee loves to fly and stop to visit her friends to tell them of her flying adventures. Until one day she reads an article that says bees can't fly. What will happen when her friend the owl needs her to fly to save him? Can bees fly? Preschool for length.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely illustrated with a cute plot, but would need to be contextualized when used with children.

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the aspect of the expert making the bee question her ability to fly. It could be a help in introducing questioning to young students.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet children's book with beautiful illustrations.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

A kind of "I think I can" book with bugs instead of trains

[Vee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really?
Did this story really need an article from a professor?
I understand but I think the execution is lacking.

[Kayla Christ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute little story

[Emily Leeds · Rating 5 out of 5]

My boys love insects and this is a cute story about a bumble bee. A good moral to teach any kid about never giving up no matter what anyone tells you.

[Dolores · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friendly bee book.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming, inspirational story.

[Monica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautiful art, mediocre story.

[Am.Aversa]

This book is about a bee named Buzz. He reads a newspaper article that bees can't fly, and he believes that he can't fly, until owl needs his help. Once he notices that Owl's tree was on fire, he rushes to get there but he can only run. Buzz can only start flying again when he focuses on saving owl.
Genre: Animal Fantasy