Pea, Bee, & Jay: Wannabees; Brian 'Smitty' Smith

The second in a new series of bee-rilliant graphic novels that young readers will be making a beeline for.

If you looked closely in the orchard on the farm you would find a busy beehive led by its Queen, Bee. It is hard work being Queen bee. There is training to be done, lessons to learn, and lots of honey making to oversee. Not to mention all the pampering and preening that she has to put up with. All Bee really wants is to be having fun with her friends, Jay and Pea. Neglecting her duties though has disastrous consequences as rebel bee, Lenny, stages a royal coup and takes over the hive and soon stamps his authority on it. Lenny is up to no good but can Bee and her friends prove it or is Lenny set to ‘bee’ the new Queen…

A bee that has neglected her responsibilities, a dare-devil pea and a bluejay who is trying to master the art of flight form an un-bee-table team in this fast-paced adventure. The delightful trio combine to stop a rogue bee who is behaving very badly and have to solve an issue between some arguing vegetables. The funny, amusing and straight forward plot is filled with puns and jokes and simple and expressive full-colour illustrations convey the action in all its glory. The story emphasises the importance of responsibility and the consequences of selfishness and putting our own needs and desires above those of others.

Ideal for fans of the Narwhal and Jelly series. Young readers will ‘bee’ thoroughly delighted by this engaging and amusing tale of friendship, responsibility and bees behaving badly.

Recommended for 6+.