My four-year-old and I read The Beeman by Laurie Krebs and illustrated by Melissa Iwai (The National Geographic Society, 2002) many times this week. In some senses, this book is simpler than the other bee books we read. Rather than providing a story, it shows, through rhyming descriptions and illustrations, the tools the beekeeper needs to take care of his hives (a cumulative tale, using the “Here is the…” pattern). Rather than being a city-dwelling bee keeper, this is a young child’s grandpa in a more rural setting.
In the end, the child, of course, enjoys a treat with his grandparents: “Here are the muffins, all warm and delicious and dripping with honey on Grandma’s best dishes.” My son loved to finish reading the book and say to me “Mommy, I’m so glad that my grandpa’s the beeman!” I had to remind him that his grandpa is not the beeman, but he liked to pretend he is after reading this book.
