The Bee Tree was a very cute book that talks about the adventure in books! When Mary Ellen decides she no longer is interested in reading her book, her grandfather takes her on his own adventure following the Bee's to the Bee Tree. The whole community joins in on the fun adventure. After the Bee Tree is found everyone celebrates with delicious honey back at grandpa's house. Mary Ellen is reminded of the an adventure you can have with books. The plot is easy to follow along with. The characters are built up well for the short amount of time they spend in the story. The message behind the story is adventure can be anywhere and that there is an adventure in reading which is such an important message. ( )

This book is about a young girl and her grandpa going on an adventure. They go to find the honey. Grandpa works to show Ellen that adventure can also be found in a book. ( )

When Mary Ellen and Grampa go chasing after bees to discover their honey, a group of friends and neighbors join them. While the focus of this story is how the collection of sweet honey does not come easily just like learning to read does not, children can also infer how Polacco has incorporated bee facts into the story. These facts include the long distances field bees fly and the use of smoke to mask the pheromones bees release when danger is nearby.

This would make a good read aloud in the primary grades as part of an integrated unit on the life cycle of bees and related environmental issues. This can be paired with a nonfiction text. ( )

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Summary: This book was about Mary Ellen getting bored of reading. Her grandpa decided that she needed a break so they went on a journey to find fresh honey. At the end, Mary Ellen realizes that the knowledge in books are as sweet as honey. This is realistic fiction because this could happen. It probably wouldn't, but it could.
Use in classroom: This would be a fun book to motivate students to read. It would be fun to bring in actual honey for students to taste how sweet it is.
Age Appropriateness: primary or intermediate ( )

Patricia Polacco is one of my favorite authors! I love the language she uses in her books. The funny noises and names she gives the characters keep the book light and funny. This book is great for teaching children that books can be as sweet and full of adventure as going on a bee chase and eating the honey!