Alison Jay, Bee & Me, Walker Books Australia, 1 July 2016, 32pp., $24.99 (hbk), ISBN: 9781910646052
Inspired by Alison Jay’s own encounter with a bee, Bee & Me is a wordless picture book which captures a blossoming friendship between a girl and a bee who has flown in through her window. As the girl nurtures the bee it grows and grows, becoming her friend and playmate. But when the sight of flowers in a florists’ window provoke homesickness in the bee, the girl and the bee devise a plan to bring flowers to the city.
Bee & Me elicits feelings of joy through its sweet, and at times humorous, illustrations. Many readers will be familiar with Alison Jay’s gorgeous and distinctive illustrations from books such as ABC, Numbers and Families. I was relieved that she has moved away from using the cracked-glaze effect over her pictures, allowing the simplicity of the colourful drawings to shine.
As well as fostering empathy towards the plight of the bee, Bee & Me gently prompts an awareness of the changing seasons, enriching the readers’ understanding of the natural world. The book also includes a page with basic information about bees and a list of flowers that bees love.
I would recommend Bee & Me for 3-6 year olds. The gentle nature of the book with only brief moments of tension may not capture the attention of all children. But for children that love wordless picture books, and especially enjoy studying the details in Alison Jay’s drawings, Bee & Me is perfect.
Reviewed by Bec Blakeney