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Bee
A boy wonders what honeybees do all day—and they offer to show him! Charlotte Voake delivers a delightful story filled with whimsy and wonder.
On a warm spring day, a curious boy watches the bees go back and forth from their hive. To his surprise, he hears tiny voices—the honeybees have a magic bee suit just for him! The next minute, the boy is the same size as Bella, Beatrice, and the rest of the sociable bees, ready to spend the day learning all about them. And when the day is over, the boy has an idea of his own about how to make his new friends’ lives even sweeter. Playful illustrations bring to life this buzzy adventure from beloved author-illustrator Charlotte Voake.
On a warm spring day, a curious boy watches the bees go back and forth from their hive. To his surprise, he hears tiny voices—the honeybees have a magic bee suit just for him! The next minute, the boy is the same size as Bella, Beatrice, and the rest of the sociable bees, ready to spend the day learning all about them. And when the day is over, the boy has an idea of his own about how to make his new friends’ lives even sweeter. Playful illustrations bring to life this buzzy adventure from beloved author-illustrator Charlotte Voake.
Hardcover
Published March 3, 2022
19 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Voake
109 books20 followers"I don’t know that I’m a funny person," says author-illustrator Charlotte Voake. "But it seems when I begin to draw that the characters change, and they take on this amusing and amused look." Indeed, her illustrations are widely loved for this very quality of gentle wit, not to mention their quiet observation, airy exuberance, and utter charm.
Born and raised in Wales, Charlotte Voake says that book illustration is "the only thing I ever wanted to do," and she certainly has made a brilliant career of it. Skipping formal training in art, she studied art history at London University and worked at an art gallery before embarking on a freelance career in illustration. Among her most acclaimed picture books is GINGER, an American Library Association Notable Children’s Book that KIRKUS REVIEWS called a "flawless tale of two cats . . . to be read and reread." GINGER FINDS A HOME, a prequel to that award-winning picture book, shows how the loving ministrations of a little girl transformed the title character from stray to pampered pet. "We had a cat who lived at the bottom of our garden," Charlotte Voake says of her inspiration for this story. "It was a great moment when he decided to come and live with us."
Charlotte Voake was personally selected by the nephew of the esteemed children's book writer Eleanor Farjeon to illustrate the delightful classic, ELSIE PIDDOCK SKIPS IN HER SLEEP. More recently, Charlotte Voake wrote and illustrated PIZZA KITTENS, a dinnertime comedy of errors that she says stems from personal experience. "Good manners are not acquired overnight," she sighs. "The secret is to keep trying!"
Charlotte Voake lives in Surrey, England, with her husband and two children.
Born and raised in Wales, Charlotte Voake says that book illustration is "the only thing I ever wanted to do," and she certainly has made a brilliant career of it. Skipping formal training in art, she studied art history at London University and worked at an art gallery before embarking on a freelance career in illustration. Among her most acclaimed picture books is GINGER, an American Library Association Notable Children’s Book that KIRKUS REVIEWS called a "flawless tale of two cats . . . to be read and reread." GINGER FINDS A HOME, a prequel to that award-winning picture book, shows how the loving ministrations of a little girl transformed the title character from stray to pampered pet. "We had a cat who lived at the bottom of our garden," Charlotte Voake says of her inspiration for this story. "It was a great moment when he decided to come and live with us."
Charlotte Voake was personally selected by the nephew of the esteemed children's book writer Eleanor Farjeon to illustrate the delightful classic, ELSIE PIDDOCK SKIPS IN HER SLEEP. More recently, Charlotte Voake wrote and illustrated PIZZA KITTENS, a dinnertime comedy of errors that she says stems from personal experience. "Good manners are not acquired overnight," she sighs. "The secret is to keep trying!"
Charlotte Voake lives in Surrey, England, with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 1, 2022
A little boy gets to learn all about bees from inside the hive, when he shrinks down and flies with a pair of workers. Very cute, with delightful illustrations by the author.
April 30, 2023
An unusual story about a boy who becomes a bee .
August 10, 2022
3.5 stars--This is a whimsical little book with a classic feel. Thanks to a bit of magic, a child is able to tour a beehive and fly along with the busy insects. At the book's conclusion, he plants more flowers so the bees will always have plenty to eat.
July 20, 2023
I love the message - God knows the bees in our world could use all the help and publicity they can get! In this story, a little boy has a bee-suit made for him by two very generous, busy bees. He puts on the suit and becomes teeny-tiny - just the right size to squeeze into a hive and have a lovely tour of the place.
The little boy learns a few things about bees, but not all that much. There's a queen, they like the dark and they make honey. In return for letting him see their hive, he plants lots of pollinators for the bees; every little counts.
The story is sweet, no pun intended, but there's very little pack in the punch. I also didn't particularly like the illustrations, which were quite flat (it is the style, but it's not to my taste) and lacking vibrancy - particularly for a story about nature and life!
So I really love the message, but I think other stories have done and will do this story more justice.
ARC provided from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
The little boy learns a few things about bees, but not all that much. There's a queen, they like the dark and they make honey. In return for letting him see their hive, he plants lots of pollinators for the bees; every little counts.
The story is sweet, no pun intended, but there's very little pack in the punch. I also didn't particularly like the illustrations, which were quite flat (it is the style, but it's not to my taste) and lacking vibrancy - particularly for a story about nature and life!
So I really love the message, but I think other stories have done and will do this story more justice.
ARC provided from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2023
Bee tells the story of a young boy who loves watching the bees daily go in and out of their bee hive. He wonders what the bees do when they are indoors and when they leave.
Then one day two bees magic him into a teeny-weeny boy and give him a yellow and black striped suit to wear so they can show him what they do all day.
The story is quite simply adorable. It will show inquisitive minds what the bees actually get up to and how hard they work, plus show they are not to be scared of.
The bright, colourful, full-page illustrations are beautiful and capture the moments in the bees lives perfectly.
Bee is an adorable, lovely and magical children's book that is perfect for bedtime or classroom reads. I loved it. It is a good start for young readers to learn about these incredible insects and how much good they do in the world.
On a tiny note, I would have liked a page at the back where the reader can find out more information about Bees.
Then one day two bees magic him into a teeny-weeny boy and give him a yellow and black striped suit to wear so they can show him what they do all day.
The story is quite simply adorable. It will show inquisitive minds what the bees actually get up to and how hard they work, plus show they are not to be scared of.
The bright, colourful, full-page illustrations are beautiful and capture the moments in the bees lives perfectly.
Bee is an adorable, lovely and magical children's book that is perfect for bedtime or classroom reads. I loved it. It is a good start for young readers to learn about these incredible insects and how much good they do in the world.
On a tiny note, I would have liked a page at the back where the reader can find out more information about Bees.
August 16, 2023
Have children ever wondered what happens inside a beehive, where honeybees live and what bees do. This lovely fiction book will help answer some of the questions children might ask about bees.
The story Bee, is a lovely bright picture book, about a little boy that wonders what honeybees do in their beehive when two bees give the little boy a suit for him with wings attached so he can fly around with the bees, showing him how they make their honey. This book would be a lovely idea for an infant school with its sweetest little story that builds on an educational point too.
The story Bee, is a lovely bright picture book, about a little boy that wonders what honeybees do in their beehive when two bees give the little boy a suit for him with wings attached so he can fly around with the bees, showing him how they make their honey. This book would be a lovely idea for an infant school with its sweetest little story that builds on an educational point too.
September 28, 2022
Whimsical book where a little boy who is curious about honeybees gets invited to visit inside the hive. With some magic provided by the bees, he shrinks down to bee size and learns all about honeybees inside their hive.
November 30, 2022
Hmmm, a boy dons a bee suit to shrink to the size of a bee to explore the secret life of a hive. Okay, but where are the endnotes that tell us what he’s learned about these fascinating creatures and what else we can do to save them from extinction? Colorful collage illustrations.
March 6, 2022
Decent science book about bees that gets the info across by imagining a child becoming a bee for an afternoon. What is it like in the hive? What do bees do all day?
May 22, 2022
A young boy who wonders what honeybees do all gets all is invited for an inside tour of a hive.
August 12, 2022
A bee suit helps a boy see what it's like to be a bee.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2022
A very cute book that tells the reader a bit about bees and ends with a suggestion of something you can do for them, plants lots of flowers!
December 28, 2022
Bee suit -adorable! Best part go out and something for the bees, plants flowers!
April 17, 2023
An odd, bazar newly published children’s book...
There is some educational facts about a bees life but not one I would read again.
There is some educational facts about a bees life but not one I would read again.
Want to read
April 23, 2025SM
April 2, 2023
A story about bees for three and four year olds. Several bees give a young child a magic bee costume to enable a visit to the inside of the hive where the basic facts of bees and making honey are related.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews