Ant and Honey Bee: A Pair of Friends in Winter

Gr 1–3—It's getting chilly out, and Ant and Honey Bee are settling in for hibernation. But Ant isn't ready to be alone; she braves the cold to visit her pal one last time. Honey Bee is grumpy and resists all of Ant's attempts to cheer her. Eventually, Ant coaxes Honey Bee out of her bad mood as they fix a sandwich with all of the food in the hive. The two buddies then cuddle together for their long winter's nap. This story of friendship is full of puns that will make readers chuckle. The gouache, acrylic, and pencil illustrations add details for children to find (e.g., Bee's newspaper warns of "Killer Bee Attack"). The large font and simple, sometimes repetitive, words ("Ant looked out the window. Gray clouds. Gray sky. Gray trees. Gray earth.") will allow beginning readers to read the story on their own, but it is complex enough for stronger readers to feel accomplished. A solid addition to early chapter-book collections.—Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Ft. Thomas, KY