The Bee Mother

Reviews / Votes

Described with delicious adjectives ("pillowy moss floor") that enrich the story...lushly -colored and detailed; the fur on the bumblebee looks ready to be brushed. This great blend of nonfiction with narrative and amazing illustrations will engage readers in the life of bees and their significance to the Gitxsan Nation. A solid general purchase. -- Tamara Saarinen * School Library Journal * I am forever enamored with the way that traditional depictions of the natural world that Natasha Donovan includes in her illustrations. The entire series masterfully blends together nonfiction information about different mothers with an emphasis on the interconnectedness between humans and non-humans. * The Tiny Activists * AICL has enthusiastically recommended the other six books in the Mothers of Xsan series. The Bee Mother is a timely and relevant addition to the series. Highly recommended. -- Jean Mendoza * American Indians in Children's Literature * Each of the Mothers of Xsan illustrated children's books presents science within the cultural context of the Gitxsan Nation's close relationship with nature, with an emphasis on mothers. The Bee Mother shines a spotlight on pollinators: bumblebees, honeybees, and wasps. * MONTECRISTO Magazine * Who doesn't like bumblebees? They shouldn't be able to fly and yet there they are bobbing among the spring flowers and making Nature come to life. They are a wonder and this beautiful little book simply and colourfully explains why. -- Ron Verzuh * The British Columbia Review * This is a book to read slowly and savour. Guided by a teacher or elder, middle graders can pore over sumptuous visuals as they build language skills, gain a better understanding of the Gitxsan, and appreciate the value of nature's gardeners. -- Jill Bryant * Quill & Quire *