Bee-Wigged by Cece Bell, Cece Bell (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

To bee or not to bee? A lonely, overlarge insect tries a new identity on
for size in a wacky, wonderful tale of true friendship.

All Jerry Bee wants is to make friends, but that's hard to do when you're the most enormous bee anyone has ever seen. Then a wig changes Jerry's life: when he puts it on, he looks just like a boy! Jerry creates quite a buzz with his kindness and generosity, and for the first time, he has friends. But will his new pals stick around when his true identity is revealed? In this zany and tender tale, written and illustrated by Cece Bell, Jerry finds that having friends you can "bee" yourself around is as sweet as honey.

Children's Literature

Jerry Bee is a bee but not just any bee. He is the most enormous bee that anyone has seen, and everyone is afraid of being stung. Jerry tries everything he could think of to be friendly; when he says hello, people run; when he answers the phone with his, "bzzzzzzzzzzzz," people know he is a bee; he even tries to give away free honey and still people are afraid of him. Then one day, Jerry finds a wig lying on a sidewalk. Just maybe that will be his answer. He puts it on his head and the first person to see the "new Jerry" is a school bus driver. She wants him to get to school immediately because he is late! So far, Jerry's new identity is working. At school Jerry hopes to make new friends; the first classroom he entered he meets Miss Swann, the teacher. She and all the students just think Jerry is wonderful—helpful, funny, artistic, generous, and even a great speller. Jerry is so happy at school he decides to go every day. Eventually, he is nominated for a great honor that could very well become his demise. What a surprise for Jerry and his wig! Do all the friends he has made run away, or does everyone learn a lesson about friendship? The colorful illustrations make the story of Jerry Bee and his new friends. Ages for this book would be better for lower elementary, as they need to learn early the lesson of diversity in friendship and being themselves. Reviewer: Debby Willett

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2

Jerry is a very large and very sad bee. He is the size of a child and, though quite friendly, people are afraid of him. One day he finds a discarded wig, puts it on, and is immediately mistaken for a boy, which is amusing since he now looks like a bee with a bad toupee. Though the scruffy-looking hairpiece covers his tiny antennae, humorous pictures reveal two small wings on his black-and-yellow-striped back, which apparently cause no consternation. Jerry enters school and his courteous, complimentary, and helpful manner makes him extremely popular with his classmates and the staff. When his wig is accidentally blown off and it's obvious that he's really a bee, the old prejudices return and everyone runs from him. Fortunately, and amazingly, his wig turns out to be a particularly hairy guinea pig who saves the day by reminding everyone of Jerry's sterling qualities. Engaging, digitally combined ink and acrylic illustrations in bold colors with black outlines highlight this funny and ultimately cheerful tale of acceptance.-Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI

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