Customer Reviews

When the Bees Fly Home

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This gem of a book has many things to recommend it. The paintings are carefully rendered to reveal the ehtnic family with diverse interest. The story of a family unit which will remain strong despite the different talents. Add to this the factual information about bees. This book can be used in the classroom to help students make connections to thier own lives which deepens understanding; it can be used to teach facts and can be used to develop cultural awareness.
I have a copy for my classroom and one for my grandson!

Jonathan, an elementary-school boy, is not strong enough to help his father, a beekeeper, with his work, and his father is annoyed. The father seems to prefer Jonathan's preschool brother, who loves to show off his muscles. The family is struggling financially: a dry spell means less honey to sell.

One day, Jonathan helps his mother make beeswax candles by decorating them with tiny beeswax sculptures. His father is impressed, and starts to appreciate Jonathan's skill. The decorated candles sell out at the farmer's market, and Jonathan collects many more orders. That night, Jonathan and his father enjoy some quiet time on the porch as the rain finally comes down.

This unusual picture book contains bee facts on each page. My sons were interested to learn, for example, that bees' wings beat 180 times per second.

Another thing I liked about this book is that the parents are a mixed-race couple. This is never mentioned in the story, but the watercolor pictures by Joline McFadden show a fair blond father and a brown-skinned, black-haired mother. It is rare to see a mixed-race couple presented in a picture book in a matter-of-fact way, without a lot of commentary.

I have included this book in my online Gender Equality Bookstore.