The Bees of Notre Dame by Meghan P. Browne; Illustrated by E. B. Goodale

The Bees of Notre Dame

By Meghan P. Browne; Illustrated by E. B. Goodale

Random House Studio. 

2023

In this delightful, informational pictures book with bright and captivating illustrations, readers are transported to the city of Paris. There we experience the romantic city and the life of the honeybee, as they go about their business gathering pollen from the flowers and trees in the city, laying eggs and making honey.

Until one day, everything changes.  

Readers will be fascinated to know that atop the great Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, beekeepers, like Sibyle Moulin, tends honeybee hives. When, in 2019, an electrical fire started on the roof of the cathedral, the citizens of Paris were begging to know if the bee colonies survived. For days, the world waited for news. Then, “On Good Friday, a drone flew above the charred church and captured images showing the hive boxes upright and untouched by the flames. Disaster and despair turned to relief and hope.”  

Goodale’s illustrations, rendered in monoprint, oil paint, gouache, collage, and colored pencils are colorful and pair perfectly with Browne’s enchanting text. 

Included is an author’s note and recommended reading. 

For bee lovers of all ages, The Bees of Notre Dame is a perfect story to read a story time or to students of all grades. It is a tale of hope.

P.S. I love the map of Notre Dame de Paris on the endpapers. 

Honeybee Rescue by Loree Griffin Burns

 

Honeybee Rescue: a Backyard Drama 
by Loree Griffin Burns; Photograhs by Ellen Harasimowicz
Charlesbridge. 2022

Loree Griffin Burns latest is an exciting, true story of a honeybee rescue. Told simply, the mix of action and science blends together perfectly like a peanut butter and honey sandwich. 

The tale begins one summer day when Mr. Connery noticed a buzzing was coming from his rickety old barn. When he looked inside, he noticed a colony of honeybees had moved in. As a beekeeper, Mr. Connery knew the old barn was so full of holes and leaks, if the bees remained there they would not survive the winter. 

Who do you call when honeybees need rescuing? Mr. Nelson, a beekeeper who specializes in removing hives from dangerous places. 

The rest of this page-turner of a book will keep even the most reluctant listener enthralled. 

Harasimowicz’s photographs could tell the story on their own. The color photos capture lots of emotion, action, and the beauty of keeping bees.

The book includes an interview with Mr. Nelson, glossary, author's note, sources, and further reading.

Click here to visit the publishers page for more information and resources.

A must-have for all libraries, school and public. A great resource for students, even in high school, who are curious about the ins and outs of beekeeping. 

I loved this book because a few years ago I had a swarm of honeybees set up a hive in my rickety, leaky garage. I called our local honeybee rescuer and within a few days the bees were safely in their new home. A very happy ending.