"The Still Bee" was born as a poem and remains so in this newly minted Book Nine of Kelly Anne Manuel's Essentials Series. In this story the Child is invited on a journey with the narrator to study bees with a different lens. It a is fun and light hearted story of a narrator who is curious about what goes on in the mind of a bee. "The Still Bee" offers a standing invitation to the Child. The Child will learn that they can actively engage with literature that is also entertaining. This is story for all times of day because it encourages outings in Nature with all its lively elements. It also presents a theme of a healthy balance in the life cycle of activity and rest that the Child can understand at any age. The simple words take on new meaning as the illustrations pair perfectly with their presentation. The illustrations offer a view of bears and bees personified to keep the Child's attention. The images are amazingly precise at capturing emotions that Children also experience. "The Still Bee" allows the Child to see cooperation in the way bees function. The team work, determination, and motivation that bees utilize is on full display in this book. There are questions as well as problem solving elements included. The narrator sets aside the fear of being stung in order to learn about the bee. This is an example of courage that leads to a positive outcome. It is in Early Childhood that interpersonal communication skills are formed. "The Still Bee" is a tool in a Caregiver's toolbox to assist with that healthy formation. The idea that we can learn from observing different environments in Nature is a theme that the author embraces. The Child who reads this book will be fascinated by the bee and all it does for humanity.
