Just So Stories

Harper Collins Australia

July 2024

• ISBN: 9780008715014
• ISBN 10: 0008715017
• Imprint: Farshore Picture Books GB
• RRP: $26.99

To finish off this week’s little theme of mini-beasts comes this enchanting book from Alison Brown showcasing the extraordinary talents of bees! Take a bow, bees of the world bee-cause we know you are the absolute superstars of the insect world.

When Billie sees a poster for the upcoming Pet Show, at the Festival of Talents, she is determined to be part of it, because she knows she has what takes: intelligence, cuteness and agility.

All she needs is to be someone’s pet. And that someone is a boy who has been wanting a pet and can definitely see Billie’s talents winning the prize. Together they train and prepare and when the day arrives, the boy cautions Billie just to be discreet -no buzzing, no flying – because some people ‘are funny about bees‘.

All goes swimmingly with Billie absolutely nailing cuteness and intelligence but when it comes to the high brick wall she has to get over, there is a BIG problem. After her first failed attempt, she accidentally flies over it buzzily and oh oh!! pandemonium!!

But the boy soon puts a stop to that nonsense. When he crossly tells the hysterical crowd that if it weren’t for Billie (and all the other bees), there would no giant pumpkins or flowers or watermelons – all the things that been prizewinners in the rest of the Festival of Talents.

As the boy and Billie leave, having been disqualified because Billie is NOT a pet, all the other prizewinners decide that Billie should have won everything – and give her their trophies. It really is the cutest way to explain to even your littlest Smalls just how important bees are. And the backmatter with some facts and tips for caring about bees is an additional honeypot.

Deliciously funny, but with the sweetener of important learning, I highly recommend it for your readers from Kindy upwards with a 5 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 rating. After reading, why not do some bee-you-tiful drawing as well!