Buzzy Bee
Collins Michelin i-SPY Guides Series
What’s inside...
Buzzy Bee and Little Butterfly are having fun playing in the flowers, but soon Little Butterfly becomes sad when he can't find Buzzy Bee. The two friends eventually find each other and are overjoyed to resume their play. 'Collins Big Cat' is a series aimed at helping children aged 4-7 develop reading skills through engaging fiction and non-fiction books. This particular book, with its beautiful illustrations, explores various types of light such as sunlight, moonlight, and electric light, and discusses the interplay between light and darkness. It is a Yellow level/Band 3 book which offers early readers varied sentence structures and natural language, with a non-fiction recount text type. Illustrations on pages 14 and 15 allow children to recap and discuss the text and it links to the science curriculum topic of light and dark. The book is also levelled for Reading Recovery.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-10
Length
16 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think Buzzy Bee enjoys most about his adventures?
How do you think Buzzy Bee felt when he met new friends?
What would you do if you were in Buzzy Bee’s place during his journey?
How did Buzzy Bee’s choices help him solve problems he faced?
Can you think of a time when you helped a friend like Buzzy Bee did?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive reading to bring the characters and the story to life, altering your voice for different characters to maintain your child's interest.
Pause after dramatic moments in the story to discuss your child's feelings and predictions about what might happen next.
Relate the story to your child’s experiences by asking if they have ever felt similar emotions or faced similar situations as Buzzy Bee.
Encourage your child to draw their favorite scene or character from the book, then describe why they chose it, helping them articulate their thoughts and feelings.
After reading, ask your child to summarize the story in their own words, reinforcing comprehension and narrative skills.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of teamwork
Explanation: In 'Buzzy Bee,' Buzzy and his friends work together to organize a surprise party. Throughout the story, collaboration and collective effort are highlighted.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by participating in group activities at school or helping out in family projects, learning that teamwork often leads to better outcomes.
Example Lesson: Overcoming fears
Explanation: Buzzy Bee is initially scared to fly over the tall sunflowers, but with encouragement from his friends, he overcomes this fear. This shows the importance of facing and overcoming personal fears with support.
Real-World Application: This can teach children to confront their own fears, whether it's trying out a new sport, speaking in front of the class, or making new friends, knowing that it's okay to seek help from others when needed.
Example Lesson: The value of kindness
Explanation: Throughout the book, Buzzy performs small acts of kindness, like sharing his pollen with a friend who hasn’t collected enough. These acts of kindness are shown to uplift everyone in the garden.
Real-World Application: Children learn the impact of kindness and can practice this by sharing with siblings or classmates, or helping someone in need, recognizing how these actions foster a positive community.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Buzzy Bee has duties in the garden, like pollinating the flowers, which he takes seriously. The story emphasizes the importance of fulfilling responsibilities diligently.
Real-World Application: Kids can relate this to their own lives by taking care of their personal belongings, completing homework on time, or taking on small chores at home, understanding that being responsible is part of being dependable and trustworthy.