Let’s Be Bees

In this sound-centric account of a riotous readaloud session from Caldecott Honoree Harris, a bearded caregiver in a blue top holds one side of a book while a child in a yellow shirt grasps the other. “Let’s be bees,” reads text on the first spread’s verso. On the recto, the caregiver urges the child via speech balloon: “LET’S BUZZ.” A page turn later, the duo’s clothes suddenly appear empty—the sitting humans have turned into hovering bees: “BUZZ!” Soon, “Let’s be birds” again transforms the figures (“CHIRP!”), and the conceit gains momentum as the two turn into trees (“RUSTLE!”), weather (“THUNDER!”), and more. Simple figures outlined in energetic black crayon burst with energy as the calls of many animals next emerge across spreads (“Let’s RATTLE”; “Let’s CROW”). At the end, the light-brown-skinned adult and child mimic each other (“Let’s be me... let’s be you”) by way of wrapping up this endearing celebration of voice and noise. In a sly, self-referential twist, the book the pair is reading—Let’s Be Bees—invites the audience into mimicry not just of the natural world but of the characters themselves. Ages 4–8. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Feb.)