Colette: The Solitary Bee

Gr 1-2–Colette the bee likes to spend time by herself in her underground burrow. She can do things by herself, such as fly and forage for food; she is clever; she knows how to protect herself and find her way in the forest; she goes on adventures, like going down the path and sleeping under the stars. Colette doesn’t need anyone else! As it turns out, though, “Sometimes, others ask her for help, too./ And how could she say no/ when she knows how to do so many things?” Colette helps her snail, slug, worm, caterpillar, and ant friends with their problems. Suddenly, Colette finds herself quite popular, which is “not always easy for a solitary bee.” In the end, she realizes the importance of her connections with others. That bees live underground may be a new concept to young readers, but the fact that Colette is a “solitary” bee fits with the facts. Through all of Colette’s activities, however, the message has two prongs: It’s good to help others and let them help you; solitary is also fine. Fanciful cartoonlike drawings, some divided into panels, are colorful and fun, but pad the story out to almost 40 pages.