Title: Phoebe Bee
Author: Arlene Rita Borromeo
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 1483628213
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book
Pages: 28
Reviewed by: Barbara Bamberger-Scott
Pacific Book Review
A sweet-as-honey bee named Phoebe is the heroine of this endearing tale for children created by author and illustrator Arlene Rita Borromeo.
Phoebe lives in a garden where she is known to be the smallest and sweetest of the bees that share that space. She has become friendly with other creatures – insects, bunnies and birds – and plays hide and seek with them and her bee companions. Being small, she can conceal herself inside the blooms of lilies, cosmos, even smelly marigolds. And being good-natured, she enjoys being discovered. However, there are older bees who have no respect for Phoebe and her happy-go-lucky manner. They are busy bodies who want everyone to be just like them, hustling about and constantly exhorting Phoebe to “Be faster!” But when Phoebe tries to hurry like they do, she slips and falls to the ground. Then the elders tease her for her inability to fly. Her sadness turns to relief when she takes some good advice from her friend Beatrice: “Just be yourself.” Now when the old bees bully Phoebe, she answers them with compliments and sweetness, because that’s the kind of bee she is at heart.
Author Borromeo, dedicated to educating children, has created this positive take on a pervasive problem: bullying. The book is geared for children from age three to seven. The illustrations are charming and colorful, with Phoebe’s bright orange and black form nestled among or perching on a multitude of differently hued flowers; the red and orange marigolds are especially life-like, making a perfect blend with Phoebe’s perky stripes. This book will be an enjoyable read-to for parents and grandparents, teachers and counselors, and a read-it-yourself experience for older children. It opens the way to discussions about how it feels to be bullied and how to deflect such rude behaviors.
The book ends with a Bible verse, reminding us to “overcome evil with good” – another worthy talking point for children and adults alike. In total, Borromeo has designed an engaging, attractive book with an important message for children of all ages.
