When the Bees Fly Home

CLASSROOM GUIDE

In WHEN THE BEES FLY HOME, it’s frustrating for young Jonathan, the son of a beekeeper, when he isn’t quite strong enough to help his dad with some of the work on the farm. Sometimes his father is irritable with him, and it’s worse now, because the family is struggling to make ends meet during a drought, and their bees aren’t making much honey. When Jonathan’s mom stays up late one night to make beeswax candles to sell at the local farmer’s market, Jonathan comes downstairs to help. He puts his own skills to work modeling small wax animals and insects to decorate the candles—which prove so popular that they come home from the market with orders for lots more. Boys often gain recognition for their strength and athletic ability, and those who do not fit into the traditional mold may feel misunderstood. WHEN THE BEES FLY HOME helps us see that artistic and sensitive boys have their own special place.
“…bee flitting from page to page, accompanied by bouncing lines of fact-filled text, is a clever design touch.” - Cincinnati Enquirer, May 28, 2002

“…father recognizes value of Jonathan’s talent… warmth of acceptance shines through….sensitive, realistic illustrations depict a loving, biracial family.” - Phyllis Kennemer, Children’s Literature

“Easy to read and colorfully illustrated, the story is supplemented with loads of fun facts about bees.” - Central Maine Newspapers, September 29, 2002

“Magical pictures and a captivating story…[a] poignant tale of a boy’s wish for acceptance from his father.” - Anne K. Fishel, Director, Family and Couples Therapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital
Andrea Cheng teaches English as a Second Language and writes children’s books in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she lives with her husband and their three children. She is the author of Grandfather Counts (Lee & Low), Anna the Bookbinder (Walker & Co., 2003), and two young adult novels. The idea for When the Bees Fly Home came from observing her brother, who is a beekeeper and bee inspector in Southern Ohio.

Joline McFadden is a retired high school biology teacher who lives in Lewiston, Maine. An accomplished watercolorist, this is her first children’s book.