Synopsis
The son of a beekeeper, Jonathan is not sturdy enough to do some of the work, but with the support of his mother he finds a way to help the family and form a bond with his ...
Phyllis Kennemer - Children's Literature
Jonathan is small and skinny and feels like he is of no use to his father, who keeps bees and gathers honey for a living. All Jonathan wants is the wax. He molds it into perfect little images of cows, geese, and bees. When his mother begins making candles for the farmer's market, Jonathan asks if he can decorate them with small wax animals. The candles are such a hit at the market that they sell out in a few hours and Jonathan goes home with a long list of orders for next week. His father recognizes the value of Jonathan's talent and the warmth of acceptance shines through. The sensitive, realistic illustrations depict a loving, biracial family. Wavy lines of light beige print provide facts about bees along the bottom of the pages. This information can be read separately so that it does not interfere with the story. 2002, Tilbury House,
Editorials
Children's Literature
Jonathan is small and skinny and feels like he is of no use to his father, who keeps bees and gathers honey for a living. All Jonathan wants is the wax. He molds it into perfect little images of cows, geese, and bees. When his mother begins making candles for the farmer's market, Jonathan asks if he can decorate them with small wax animals. The candles are such a hit at the market that they sell out in a few hours and Jonathan goes home with a long list of orders for next week. His father recognizes the value of Jonathan's talent and the warmth of acceptance shines through. The sensitive, realistic illustrations depict a loving, biracial family. Wavy lines of light beige print provide facts about bees along the bottom of the pages. This information can be read separately so that it does not interfere with the story. 2002, Tilbury House,— Phyllis Kennemer