Happy Friday, and welcome to another installment of the monthly feature at Bewitched Bookworms where we review Children’s books.
These Bees Count!
by Alison Formento
Hardcover, 32 pages–Ages 2 and up
Published by Albert Whitman & Company, February 2012
Illustrated by Sarah Snow (Goodreads, Amazon)
Copy received at BEA 2012
How do bees count? The bees at the Busy Bee Farm buzz through the sky as one big swarm, fly over two waving dandelions, find three wild strawberries dripping tasty nectar As the children in Mr. Tate’s class listen, they learn how bees work to produce honey and make food and flowers grow. Bees count–they’re important to us all. Alison Formento’s gentle message is illustrated with Sarah Snow’s bright, realistic papercuts.
My Thoughts:
The diverse kids in Mr. Tate’s class go on a field trip to a Bee Farm, and at first the children are confused as to exactly what kind of farm they are visiting. But they get the chance to suit up in protective gear and get up close and personal with the flying insects. Throughout the text and using vivid paper-cut illustrations, you learn all about why bees are important and how they make honey.
A brief counting interlude from the bees’ point of view makes up the middle of the book is very cute and informative. The bees count “Two waving dandelions, three wild strawberries, four apple blossoms…,” all the way up to ten.
The text in the body of the book is easy for younger children to understand, and my three year old son easily sat and read this book with me, pointing out different things and counting along. At the end of the book, there is a deeper, more complex “Buzz on bees” that explains why bees are important to the ecosystem and how colony collapse disorder has affected honeybees around the world in recent years. These Bees Count is an entertaining and educational look into the importance and lives of these vital insects.
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Aw, this looks adorable! I’m going to pass this review on to my elementary teacher friends.
Mary @ BookSwarm recently posted..The Optimist’s View: Book Blogging
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This is a really cute book, especially with all of the kids dressed up in the white bee tending suits.
Heather recently posted..Shades of Earth by Beth Revis
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It sounds like a super cute story. I miss all the little kid books now, my kids are too old for them now.
Great review.
Jenea @ Books Live Forever
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Thanks! I still have several years of these books with my son since he’s just turning four, and we enjoy reading and discussing these things right now. I just hope he continues to like books as he grows. I’m glad that he liked this one!
Heather recently posted..Shades of Earth by Beth Revis
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Thanks so much for reading THESE BEES COUNT! and including it on Bewitched Bookworms. I hope you and your readers will take a look at my other books in the same series, THIS TREE COUNTS! and THESE SEAS COUNT! which just came out on March 1st. Sarah Snow has done a fabulous job illustrating the ocean life that Mr. Tate’s class meet and learn from on beach clean up day.
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