Bee, A Peek-Through Picture Book

Bee, A Peek-Through Picture Book 

By Britta Teckentrup 

    Bee is part of the Peek-Through picture book series by Britta Teckentrup. The book follows the adventures of a honeybee as she goes through her day. Some intrigue is added because the reader may not be sure what a bee does all day since this book is marketed to a younger age. The reader sees the bee go through many scenes, including different forests and meadows. The bee gets to her hive and tells the other bees that there is work to be done. The book ends with all the bees flying away. Bee is a highly effective way to introduce children to the concept of how bees are good since a lot of children fear bees or have been stung by them in the past. The pictures are visually stunning and there are shapes cut out on almost every page. The cover is cut out with a hexagonal honeycomb shape that continues throughout the whole entire book. There is a lot of attention to detail present. If the reader looks closely, they can trace certain animals throughout the book. There are ladybugs on almost every page which is something a child could enjoy. There are animals grouped together such as a hive of bees or a pair of foxes. The words are uncomplicated and easy to follow. Bee also has a good rhyming structure and is very lyrical when read aloud. This element greatly adds to the story and makes it easy for a young mind to follow. On the last page, there is a meadow scene that shows each animal featured on the pages hiding in the flowers. This addition is sure to be useful to children and parents alike. Bee is highly informative and is sure to be a favorite in any classroom, home, or library setting.  

BIBLIO: 2016, Doubleday, Penguin Random House, Ages 2-6, $14.99 

REVIEWER: Ella Frey  

FORMAT: Picture Book 

ISBN: 978-1-5247-1526-7 

The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend

 The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend

By Dan Santat 

    The Adventures of Beekle focuses on Beekle, who is an imaginary friend. Beekle is born on an island where imaginary friends are created. Beekle waits for a friend for many nights, but when he is not chosen, he decides to go to the real world. Beekle crosses the ocean and must use his courage. Beekle finds the real-world strange and sad. He keeps looking for a friend until he meets Alice who has not had a friend before. Alice is the one who gives Beekle his name. Beekle and Alice are shown doing many activities and even meeting new friends by the end of the book. The illustrations are beautiful and add a lot to the story, The adults in the book are shown in grey tones while the children are shown in color. There is even a page where Alice’s drawings mimic the illustrations of the book. The book reminds readers of all ages that it’s okay to have imaginary friends and that everyone deserves a friend. The fantastical nature of the illustrations gives the reader and especially children the opportunity to use their imagination. Beekle goes through periods of sadness and loneliness in the book, which is something a lot of children can relate to. There are other imaginary friends at the start of the book. This gives children the opportunity to draw inspiration for their own imaginary friend. Beekle is a very likable character and is also very cute, which adds more interest to the book, as do the beautiful pictures. Once Beekle meets Alice, Beekle becomes an ‘unimaginary friend’, This is a new term that could inspire a lot of children to create their own unimaginary friend. Overall, this is a great book for all children, and it would be great for any library or classroom.  

BIBLIO: 2014, Little Brown and Company/Hachette Book Group, Ages 2-8, $17 

REVIEWER: Ella Frey  

FORMAT: Picture Book 

ISBN: 978-0-316-19998-8 

 
 

 

Hello, Universe

Hello, Universe   

By Erin Entrada Kelly 

Hello, Universe follows the lives of four very different middle schoolers. We have the timid Virgil, the bully Chet, the Psychic Kaori, and clever Valencia. They face similar struggles to a lot of middle schoolers, and it makes them relatable characters. Virgil is bullied and takes comfort in his guinea pig, Gulliver, Valencia is deaf and faces judgment, Kaori must take care of her younger sister, and Chet has a lot of home issues. They lead very different lives, but when a prank happens that puts a fellow character's life at risk, they must band together to save a fellow classmate. Hello, Universe deals with many important issues particularly bullying. This book is unique because we see both the perspective of the bully and the victim. There are immersive details throughout the book, such as clever chapter titles, and changing points of view. The plot can seem a bit predictable at times, but Hello, Universe serves its purpose, which is to tell the stories of these characters. Once the book is finished, the cover starts to make sense. The characters are easily recognizable, and it shows an important scene directly from the book. The cultures of the characters are also interwoven into the book. Virgil’s grandmother tells him stories from her childhood that become very important. Valencia relies on the comfort of Saint Rene to guide her. Chet seems to be without meaning at times. Kaori believes she is psychic and talks about her ancestry a lot. These characters are so different and diverse that many people can relate to at least one part of them. There are some slurs used in the book, but they are used to help get the point of the plot across. Hello, Universe is a must-read and would be perfect for a middle schooler.  

BIBLIO: 2017, Greenwillow Books/Harper Collins Publishers, Ages 9-12, $16.99-$8.99 

REVIEWER: Ella Frey  

FORMAT: Middle Reader 

ISBN: 978-0062414151