Ant and Honey Bee: A Pair of Friends in Winter by Megan McDonald (review)

Best bug buds Ant and Honeybee (from Ant and Honey Bee: What a Pair!, BCCB 2/05) are back, getting ready to hunker down for winter in their respective houses. Ant, however, is too antsy to settle down: “It was not even lunchtime, and Ant was already out of one-person things to do.” Although a quick email exchange indicates that Honey Bee wants solitude, Ant heads out to “rescue her friend from being all alone.” Disregarding a sign on the door that says “EEP O T,” Ant enters her pal’s abode to find a contrarian Honey Bee who reluctantly but eventually gives into Ant’s request for a snack, an enormous sandwich made from the items in Honey Bee’s pantry. After this, a lengthy nap is in order, and the two friends snuggle up to hibernate together. The interplay between the two insect pals is engaging, while the humorous text is accessible and appropriately jokey. A large, clear typeface, repeated words and phrases, and short, direct sentences will help support novice chapter book readers. Karas’ gouache, acrylic, and pencil art is as charming as always, with muted tones effectively evoking the winter setting. Piquant artistic details—Honey Bee’s fluffy slippers, for example, or the hexagonal shape of her home’s windows—will delight sharp-eyed youngsters, and Ant in particular is a winsome little critter, especially in her artist’s beret when painting a picture. Educators may want to point out the many puns (“bee-mail”) or guide students to use context to figure out the sign on Honey Bee’s door; kids will enjoy the cozy friendship story.