My neighbors raise bees, something I’ve always found fascinating, and of course Linda loves to see them in her extensive flower and vegetable gardens. So I was quick to grab the children’s book, Bees in the City, published by Tilbury House Publishers in Thomaston.
Written by Andrea Cheng, the daughter of Hungarian immigrants, who has been fascinated by bees her entire life, this wonderful book may cause you to rush out and get yourself a bee hive.
The story focuses on a young boy, Lionel, who lives in a Paris apartment and loves tending the honeybees at his Aunt’s farm outside the city. Alas, his Aunt’s bees start dying, and Lionel figures out that the solution is to bring the bees to Paris and put them up on the rooftop of his apartment building where there lots of window boxes with an array of flowers.
Lionel and his friends are challenged to win the support of everybody in their apartment building for his plan to stick bees up on the roof, and while initially there are some negative responses, the kids got everyone turned around and in support.
It’s a compelling story which your children or grandchildren will certainly enjoy. And I was also captivated by the wonderful illustrations by Sarah McMenemy of London, England who has illustrated several best-selling children’s books. Her art is even on display at railroad station platforms in London’s East End.
The end of the book includes a lot of great information about honeybees and urban beekeeping. Linda and I have been to Paris but I don’t recall seeing lots of beehives which are apparently all over the city. Perhaps a good reason to go back and check that out!