I saw a Bee: (In the Garden)

About the Book

Age range 3 to 6

First in a series of stories which encourage young children to enjoy and appreciate the natural world.

A little boy is alarmed when he discovers a bee in a box. At first he is frightened and reacts aggressively. But gradually he realises that the bee won't harm him and that they can be friends.

'Young children will love the vibrant illustrations and simple, rhythmic text, which tells the story of a little boy who befriends a bee.' -The Oldie

'Conveys its crucial environmental message without a hint of preachiness.' -Books for Keeps

'With short rhythmic text and glowing illustrations it is set to be a story read over and over again.' -Angels and Urchins
'Beautifully simple it's perfect for beginning readers and told with a catchy natural rhythm, Rob's textis highly repeatable. A delicious first picture book.' -Red Reading Hub
'This is a simple bedtime story with an important message. At a time when insects are in steep decline ensuring that the next generation has a positive attitude to the natural world is imperative. Here is a book that will initiate that mind set.' -Antenna, Royal Entomological Society
'Environmental conservation particularly the importance of insects is big news'an ideal way to teach children about the importance of bees in our ecosystem.' -Lancashire Evening Post

Teachers' notes available here

About the Author :
Rob Ramsden teaches graphic illustration and animation in East Anglia, to pupils from 5 years old to university level. He has drawn comics, animated cartoons and illustrated commercially since 1992, and has exhibited his illustration and animation nationally and internationally. Rob is a graduate of the MA in Children's Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art. Since 2017, he has set up Fictional Space, a screen printing studio in Suffolk dedicated to collaboration, editions and limited-edition publications.

Review :
`This effectively simple book is beautifully illustrated with stylish, patterned graphics showing bee and boy sharing our precious natural environment. The first of a proposed series of books aiming to `encourage young children to enjoy and appreciate the natural world' it's perfect for sharing with young listeners and equally, with its short rhythmic rhyming text, an ideal book for beginning readers. Either way, it conveys its crucial environmental message without a hint of preachiness.' Books for Keeps; `I saw a Bee is another delightful title from the new children's book publisher, Scallywag Press. Young children will love the vibrant illustrations and simple, rhythmic text, which tells the story of a little boy who befriends a bee.' The Oldie; The gentle rhythmic text is simple and repetitive, matching the sunny simply-shaped illustrations, which gradually spread across the pages so that by the end, the boy and bee are surrounded by a frame of greenery and flora. Promoting positivity with nature, this is an excellent picture book for the very young.' Minerva Reads; 'This is a simple bedtime story with an important message. At a time when insects are in steep decline ensuring that the next generation has a positive attitude to the natural world is imperative. Here is a book that will initiate that mind set. Parents, grandparents and children will all enjoy reading or listening to this over and over again.' Antenna, Royal Entomological Society; `With short rhythmic text and glowing illustrations it is set to be a story read over and over again.' Angels and Urchins