Bee & Me

See What the BuzZ is All About!

Bee & Me (Accord Publishing, LLC, $16.99) is the fantastic new storybook that everyone is buzZz-ing about! From author Elle J. McGuinness and illustrator Heather Brown, Bee & Me is an entrancing book that features vibrant full color illustrations introduced by the innovative technique of Ani-motion, created by Accord designers Jeff Cole and Katarina Ford. Bee & Me is the first book to feature Ani-motion applied in full color, providing the visually arresting Ani-motion panels in almost every spread to enhance the action and immediacy of the story.

Perfect for children of all ages and reading levels, Bee & Me tells the endearing story of a boy who overcomes his fear of bees when he meets and talks to one, who explains to him all of the good that bees do for the world. The bee explains that he and his friends aren't something to be afraid of, but instead are responsible for many beneficial things, from making honey to keeping flowers and trees alive. And indeed, a recent Cornell University study estimated that honeybees annually pollinate over $14 billion worth of seeds and crops in the United States. Zac Browning, vice president of the American Beekeeping Federation, shares this astonishing fact: "Every third bite we consume in our diet is dependent on a honeybee to pollinate that food."

Considering the importance of bees to daily life, the mysterious disappearance of large portions of the honeybee population in recent years is strikingly unsettling. According to the New York Times, the bee losses are ranging from 30 to 60 percent on the West Coast, with some beekeepers on the East Coast and in Texas reporting losses of more than 70 percent; to put it in perspective, beekeepers consider a loss of up to 20 percent in the off-season to be normal.

With honeybees suddenly becoming such an important focus of daily life, it is vital to introduce children to them through a story of friendship and understanding that highlights the need to respect bees instead of fearing them. Bee & Me also offers a special appendix full of fun and informative bee facts, and even instructs them on how best to help bees continue their work effectively, such as leaving out a glass of water to help bees cool their hives, or planting more blue and purple flowers (bees' favorites)! Bee & Me is the perfect book for all ages, offering a charming story, dazzling illustrations, unique Ani-motion panels, and an educational approach to understanding bees and how they benefit the world.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Contact: Kathy Hilliard, (800) 851-8923, ext. 6921, khilliard@amuniversal.com

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Bee & Me

By: by Elle J. McGuinness and illustrated by Heather Brown
ISBN: 978-0-7407-7734-9
Format: Hardcover, 8 x 10, 28 pages
Price: $16.99 ($18.99 Canada)