Book Review: The Thing About Bees: A Love Story by Shabazz Larkin

The Thing About Bees: A Love Story
by Shabazz Larkin (jP Larkin)

The Thing About Bees is a picture book written and illustrated by a man who’s afraid of bees. Shabazz Larkin decided to learn more about bees so he could pass on knowledge and appreciation to his two sons, instead of fear.

What we have here are informational pages at the start and end, with a little great read-aloud poem in the middle. The first two-page spread explains how pollination works. You could still use it in storytime by pointing to the picture and summarizing for younger kids. Mr. Larkin starts the poetry section by telling kids that bees can be bothersome and scary.

“We may want bees gone / because their sting hurts.

But if they were all gone / it would hurt much worse.”

We see and hear about all kinds of foods that we can have in life because of the work of bees. Then he turns it around on kids saying that they can be bothersome too, “But I never stop loving you.” He makes (literally) sweet comparisons between his kids and the foods that come from pollination.

At the end of the book, there’s another two-page spread that’s about the different kids of bees (and wasps and similar) and what to do to be safer around bees. The cover of the book shows what looks like one of his boys being concerned about a bee, then reaching out with careful attention toward a bee. The back cover says “Love will conquer fear.”

This is a beautiful, poignant, informative picture book. It just came out, but I can guarantee it will be raking in the awards over the next year. Strongly recommended for all children and adults.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try I’m Trying to Love Spiders by Bethany Barton or Bees: A Honeyed History by Piotr Socha.]

[ official The Thing About Bees: A Love Story book trailer ] | [ official Shabazz Larkin web site ]

Recommended by Garren H.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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