The Bee-Man of Orn

Title: The Bee-Man of Orn
Author: Frank R. Stockton
Illustrator: P. J. Lynch
Ages: 5-8
Rating: 4/5

Plot: There once was a bee-man, he had no other friends than the honey bees. One day he meets a junior sorcerer who tells him that he has been placed under a curse. And so the bee-man sets out to find out what or who he was before the spell was cast upon him.

Assessment: This is a fairly typical morality tale about being true to yourself, with a slight twist in that the main character proves he was himself all along. While a good story, the narrative at times does become somewhat lengthy and dry, and the vocabulary would be daunting for a young child. This would not make a good storytime read as children may become bored listening to the story. This is a book that would be best read with a parent and child, or by an older child individually.

The artwork is beautiful and elaborate and children can become absorbed in the intricate detail of the bee-man's house, or in noticing the bee-like stripes of the bee-man's pants and other hidden treasures. As a bonus, this edition is accompanied by a CD-ROM which shows how the illustrator crafted the illustrations of this book -something that I would have loved as a child aspiring to be an artist when I grew up!

Note: Maurice Sendak previously illustrated this fairytale in 1964. His illustrations are reminiscent of In the Night Kitchen.

Stockton, F. R.(2003). The Bee-man of Orn. Cambridge, Ma: Candlewick Press.