< Board Books

Sleepy Bee

“The sun is up. The day is new. Hello, Sleepy Bee! Good morning to you.”

Sleepy Bee greets her day with a yawn—so much to do! From sunrise to sunset, she visits fields of strawberries, broccoli, apples, and more, gathering nectar and pollen for her brood. A gentle, rhyming read-aloud with beautiful, full-color, cut paper illustrations connecting flower to food, showing how so much of what we eat is made possible by these amazing, hard-working (sometimes sleepy) friends.

Reviews:

“Big, bright portraits of luscious, labeled veggies, flowers, and fruits, including strawberries, pumpkins, and apples, are eye-catching and just right for very young viewers. Muted collages of garden scenes have an earthy, cut-paper quality and contain enough details of fields and gardens to be interesting but not overwhelming.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Many young children are taught to be afraid of bees. This fear is carried into adulthood when you hear an adult screaming when a bee is nearby. Sleepy Bee is a gentle introduction to the importance of bees in our world. This book is a beginning of a journey for young children to know and respect the insects we depend on for a healthy environment. The beautiful illustrations are clear and introduce the child to the names of fruit. This is a book to read to your infants and place on your bookshelf for the three-year-old child to read to you!” - by Beth Bronsil, retired Director, Xavier University Montessori Education Program; former Chairperson, American Montessori Society Teacher Education Committee

Awards:

Publication Information

Buy Sleepy Bee

Families and individuals can purchase blue manatee press books at many independent bookstores around the United States, so shop local and support small businesses by checking out the stores in your area or shop using the Indiebound or Bookshop buttons below! You can also purchase this book online through the Amazon, Barns & Noble, or Indigo (CA) buttons below.

Shop Local

You can help support local and independent bookstores by purchasing blue manatee press books from Indiebound or Bookshop. Simply click either of the buttons below, and search by book or by location!

Shop Online

blue manatee press books are distributed by IPG and available at most major online retail locations such as Amazon and Indigo (Canada).

About the Author: 

Dr. John Hutton is a pediatrician, clinical research fellow, and owner of the award-winning blue manatee children’s bookstore. His research foci are the effect of shared reading on brain development, general early and pediatric health literacy, and the health effects of electronic media on young children, as well as the importance of a solid foundation in words and play. 

About the Illustrator: 

Sandra Gross has an MFA in fine art from Miami University as well as an M.Ed. in early childhood education from Xavier University. Learn more at  www.SandraGross.net

Sleepy Bee Café

Together, John and Sandra “pollinated” Sleepy Bee Café, which features and celebrates locally-sourced, bee-dependent foods. They live in the woods with their 3 children, 2 dogs, 3 beehives, and many other fantastic creatures.