Buzz

PreS-Gr 2 Buzz loves everything about being a bee, especially her ability to fly. Then a storm blows a sheet of newspaper her way, and the little creature is horrified by the headline: "Professor Declares Bees Can't Fly." Even though the rest of the article is torn away, Buzz believes the professor is right. And, of course, now that she's convinced she can't fly, all her attempts to take off end in failure. When a fire threatens Old Owl's life and walking proves too slow, though, Buzz forgets the article, takes to the air, and saves the day. This thin plot and abrupt resolution make for a less than satisfying read. Buzz's sudden inability to fly, her lightning-fast recovery of her powers, and Old Owl's need to be warned his tree is burning stretch credibility. While the rhyme, alliteration, and close-ups depicted in the large oil cartoon illustrations may provide some interest, youngsters might be better served learning some factual information about bees in Gail Gibbons's "The Honey Makers" (Morrow, 1997)."Marianne Saccardi, formerly at Norwalk Community College, CT" Copyright 2010 Media Source Inc.