The Very Greedy Bee [Hardcover]

Steve Smallman (Author), Jack Tickle (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up

MINE! That's what the very greedy bee says to anyone who asks him to share. While all the other bees work hard to clean the hive and make honey, the very greedy bee spends all of his time gobbling pollen and guzzling nectar. One day the very greedy bee finds a meadow full of flowers and decides not to tell anyone. He spends the entire day buzzing from flower to flower until...THUMP. The very greedy bee is so full that he cannot fly! It's getting dark and he doesn't know how to get home unless he flies. With the help of some new found friends the very greedy bee is able to return to his hive and has learned that it's best to work with others and share what you have.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K–A greedy bee guzzles nectar and gobbles pollen, and won't share with anyone. He won't even let a tired ladybug rest on his flower. One day the bee comes upon a meadow full of juicy blossoms. He goes from flower to flower, slurping up all he can, all the while growing fatter and fatter, until he is unable to fly home. He is scared, especially when he sees two eyes glowing from the long grass, but then discovers that they are fireflies, and they offer to escort him home. At last they reach the bank of the stream, and he is assisted across by a team of ants with a big leaf. When the bee finally arrives home safely, he offers to share his best honey with his new friends and his fellow bees. The cartoonlike artwork, with bold, rounded, brightly colored creatures, leaps off the page. The rousing text, replete with sound effects and varied fonts, will work well with groups. A pleasing addition for larger collections.–DeAnn Okamura, San Mateo County Library, CA
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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Tiger Tales (March 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589250656
• ISBN-13: 978-1589250659
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 10.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #736,532 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lot's of fun slurpin' and burpin', April 27, 2010

By 

J. Prather (IN USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Very Greedy Bee (Paperback)

The bright illustrations and all of the honey-slurpin' and burpin' make this a natural for preschool story times. This is one cute bee and the sight of him floating across a stream with the aid of a large leaf and a bunch of friendly ants is sure to gather alot of smiles. This poor bee "overslurps" at a flower field that he decided to keep all to himself. After he finds himself too fat to fly he has to rely on his friends to get home. The book ends with what else? A party! And also a bee who has learned a lesson about being greedy. A really cute little story about sharing that also gives plenty of opportunity to talk about bees and their social structure. Not too long; it always keeps those little buzzers interested till the end. A big recommend.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sure to delight and enchant while it instructs kids in valuable lessons of life, February 22, 2010

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Very Greedy Bee (Paperback)

"The Very Greedy Bee" is a vividly illustrated children's morality fable about a greedy bee who overslurped on pollen and nectar and found he was too roly poly to fly his way home after dark. After quite a few moments of fear and trepidation, the greedy bee finds help from two kind fireflies who light his way (walking) home, and some tiny ants help him cross a stream by finding a leaf to ride like a boat. All ends well and the greedy bee introduces his new friends to his fellow bees and invites them to a hive party where the main course is honey. Thus the greedy bee learns the virtues and joy of sharing and the dangers of being greedy and overslurping! Aimed at children ages 3-7, "The Very Greedy Bee" is sure to delight and enchant while it instructs kids in valuable lessons of life.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cute story, beautiful illustrations, May 22, 2010

By 

J. Dieterle "jbrooxd" (Indiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Very Greedy Bee (Paperback)

A plump bee wants to keep all the nectar to himself. He moves from flower to flower, getting his fill, and he won't even let other bees stop on a flower for a rest. But the bee is so caught up in the nectar, he eats too much and can't get home. He has to rely on help from others to find his way. On the journey, he learns that working with others is a lot more fun than keeping everything to himself.

This is a gentle story with cuddly, colorful illustrations. You just want to hug those bees! A good story to open discussion about what it means to be "greedy" as well as a discussion of sharing and friendship. Could also be used as a gentle way to talk about healthy eating and not eating to excess.