Bear and Bee
Our friend bear is welcoming the change in seasons as he awakens from his winter hibernation, grabs his flip-flops, and heads out to look for a springtime snack. He spots a beehive and decides that honey would be a most satisfying snack…except for the risk of running into a bee, which he has yet to encounter. He shares his fear of these terrible, monster-like insects with none other than the bee himself! Readers will chuckle as they follow the conversation that gently reminds Bear not to be so quick to judge a book by its cover.
Pennsylvania Center for the Book Awards
Book Activities & Discussion Ideas
Things are not always what they seem. Children love to use their senses to explore and discover the world around them. There are many different ways in which adults can help them do this. For example, adults can collect several objects from nature (a pine cone, stick, leaf, etc.) and place them one at a time into a “mystery” box or bag. Adults can ask children to reach inside the box or bag without looking and describe what they feel. Can they guess what the object might be? Another fun idea might be to brainstorm with children all that they know about bees (or any other insect, animal, or topic of interest.) After creating the list, research the topic together and compare those findings to the brainstorming list. If these activities stir up an appetite, one could wrap up with a honey tasting session – and include different foods that contain honey as an ingredient.
Often children (and some adults) have a fear of bees; this book opens up a conversation that can focus on the positive, helpful characteristics of bees. Adults may even want to do some research prior to reading so that they have some interesting bee facts ready to share. In this story, Bear has never seen a bee, and does not recognize that he is actually talking to one. Adults can set the stage for this story by talking with children before reading. Adults can ask children to share what they know about bees. What do they look like? Where can we find them? What do they do all day? Adults may be surprised what children already know about bees, and also what they assume. Once families have read the story together, it might be interesting to talk about what might happen the next time Bear sees Bee. Will he still be afraid?