The King of Bees - by Lester L Laminack

About the Book

A gentle portrayal of a young boy's relationship to his beekeeper aunt and their life together on a small farm. When he learns that the bees are preparing to look for a new place to live, Henry tries to find a way to communicate with the sister bees to convince them to stay. Full color.

Book Synopsis

A gentle intergenerational tale for young readers about the importance of patience and the fascinating work of beekeeping, from award-winning author Lester L. Laminack and celebrated illustrator Jim Lamarche.

Henry wants nothing more than to be like his Aunt Lilla and work with the beehives on their Lowcountry farm. He watches her every day, working hard outside in her bee suit, but what amazes him the most is her ability to communicate with the bees. Henry feels certain he can, too.

Then one day, Aunt Lilla tells him the bees are preparing to leave the hive and may leave the farm entirely. Henry believes it is up to him to communicate with the bees and convince them to stay, before it's too late.

An author's note includes additional information about bees and bee conservation.

Review Quotes

"An informative and visually dazzling picture book about beekeeping."--School Library Journal

"[A] quiet tale of love and honeybees. . . . Visually lovely and tonally appealing"--Kirkus Reviews

"Sweetly nostalgic ink-and-watercolor illustrations could depict the past or the present and offer an atmospheric complement to the gentle, warm, and informative text."--Booklist

"A gentle tale full of Southern charm. . . [LaMarche's] ink-and-watercolor spreads are light and dreamy, with evocative sunrise shades and detailed looks at beekeeping equipment and the bees themselves."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Lester L. Laminack is a specialist in children's literacy and professor emeritus at Western Carolina University. Laminack has written numerous books and articles for educators in addition to his picture books, and he is a sought-after speaker at professional meetings and reading associations nationwide. He lives in North Carolina.

Jim LaMarche is one of the most talented artists working in children's books today. His many successful books include Rainbabies and Albert, which was selected as a New York Times Best Illustrated Book. He lives in California.