The Beeman [Hardcover]

Laurie Krebs (Author), Melissa Iwai (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

With a rhyming text and warm, cozy paintings, The Beeman shows all aspects of bee keeping, including what each type of bee does (Here is the queen bee/ who does her job well/ and lays tiny eggs/ in a six-sided cell); how the keeper and his young helper dress (Here is his jacket/ with zippered up hood/ that covers his face/ just they way that it should); how they care for the hive; and finally how they eat the honey (Here are the muffins/ all warm and delicious/ and dripping with honey/ on grandma's best dishes). It's quite clear by the end that the little girl is glad that her grandpa is the Beeman.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A girl visits her beekeeping grandfather in The Beeman by Laurie Krebs, illus. by Melissa Iwai. The text-modeled after "The House That Jack Built"-introduces beekeeping equipment and hive hierarchy, and explains the harvesting of honey ("Here are the house bees/ with swift-moving wings/ that dry up the nectar/ a worker bee brings"). Ages 4-8.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

reSchool-Grade 2-A warm, rhyming text about a relationship more than a description of a job. From the cover portrait of a slightly bemused gentleman zipped in a protective jacket to the final illustration of the man and his granddaughter enjoying homemade muffins with fresh honey, readers are introduced to the steps and the equipment involved in caring for the hive and gathering honey. Iwai's large, colorful acrylic illustrations make the setting and characters real and immediate; listeners may feel as though they are working right along with the girl and her grandfather. Bits and pieces of information are shared rather than written as complete explanations. For example, "Here is the smoker/that quiets the bees," gives no clue as to how or why. "Here are his gloves/made of cotton and leather,/protecting his hands/in all kinds of weather" makes no mention of potential stings. Those who want to understand the life of a bee would be better served by Deborah Heiligman's Honeybees (National Geographic, 2002). Krebs's book is a simple, appealing look at one beekeeping season.
Edith Ching, St. Albans School, Mt. St. Alban, Washington, DC
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792272242
• ISBN-13: 978-0792272243
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,606,623 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Laurie Krebs combines her love of children's literature with her enthusiasm for traveling to create wonderful picture books that carry readers all around the world. Laurie has developed a series of books with Barefoot Books.

She has four children and five grandsons, and lives in Virginia with her husband, Bill.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A honey of a book, September 4, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Beeman (Hardcover)

This warm, appealing picture book about bee-keeping (and grandparenting) is a delight from beginning to end. The text is spare and rhythmic, perfect for reading aloud, and the illustrations are full of bright colors and cheerfully inviting. Bees tend to fascinate young children, even if they frighten them; this book offers an insightful, reassuring look at the pleasures of bee-keeping for a little girl and her grandfather.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stunning first book written by a talented FABULOUS author!, November 23, 2002

By 

Eilonwyofllyr "eilonwyofllyr" (Newtown, CT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Beeman (Hardcover)

Krebs has written a delightful book that brings to life a glowing glimpse of "The Beeman." Seen through the eyes of a grandchild, this book invokes a warm town as gentle bee-keeping facts are given. Her book is an excellent addition to a family library or a classroom's apiary unit. I can't wait to see her other books.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, May 23, 2010

By 

Leif Johnson "Leifman" (Trinidad) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beeman (Paperback)

Well written book for beekeepers children or grand children with exposure to life and importance of honeybees.