Meet the bees.
The release of You Can’t Judge a Bee by Its Color is just around the corner, and I’d like for you to “meet” the characters in my new picture book. Here, you’ll learn their names, see cut-paper collage renderings for all five bees, and read a description of their individual personalities.
Hopefully, this brief introduction to the bees will whet your appetite for more information about the book and will excite folks about upcoming book launches, readings, and signings.
Spoiler alert: Two of the characters have nasty attitudes. Here’s hoping that you will have the patience to allow this pair a little time to “get their act together” and the wisdom to show them some grace until they do. If God permits bees (and humans) to make U-turns, then perhaps it’s prudent for writers and readers of children’s literature to do likewise.
The “Newbie”
Well, look who’s here. It’s Bob, the bee.
You’ll love this guy. I guarantee.
Sweetie Bee
A sweetheart of a honeybee—
She’s fond of flowers and sweet tea.
Fuzzy Bee
A proud, outspoken bumblebee—
Her favorite words are us and we.
Busy Bee
A fussy, bossy honeybee—
He’s always busy as can be.
Humble Bee
A gentle, loving bumblebee—
He brings his town much joy and glee.
So, there you have it—the characters from You Can’t Judge a Bee by Its Color. They’re not perfect. Sometimes, they get it right. Sometimes, they say and do the wrong thing. (Hmm. Come to think of it, these bees have a lot in common with the book’s author/illustrator.)
Will this swarming quintet from Beeville, Tennessee learn to appreciate each other’s differences and choose to live in harmony? Or will they choose to continue being critical of one another based on the color of a neighbor’s exoskeleton?
Well, now. You’ll just have to read the book to get the answer to these questions. :)