The Bee Tree is a wonderful collaboration among entomologist Stephen Buchmann, award-winning children’s book author Diana Cohn, and illus trator Paul Mirocha. Through their words and lush illustrations, readers are transported to the rain forests of Malaysia for the annual honey hunt with the young fictional narrator Nizam and his grandfather. Nizam’s coming-of age story is steeped with cultural richness as readers “. . . enter the forest as if visiting a neighbor’s home.” As an added bonus, readers will find eight pages of nonfiction information pertaining to Malaysia, including a map, detailed drawings, and photographs. ak

This beautifully illustrated STEM picture book is both a fascinating insight into honeybee behavior and a satisfying story of coming of age.

Nizam lives in a village in Peninsular Malaysia. His grandfather Pak Teh is the leader of the honey hunting clan. It is Pak Teh who has the high honor of climbing the tall Tualang tree deep in the rainforest. Lying on a branch more than a hundred feet in the air, he uses the clan's secret method to harvest the honey without being stung. But Pak Teh is getting older, and he is ready for someone to take over his role. Even though Nizam and his cousin Shukor have climbed the mighty Tualang in the daylight, they have never done it at night. Will they be brave enough? Will the angry bees sting them? Or will they succeed and claim their place in the clan?

The creators of this book participated in the honey hunt with the Orang Asli, the indigenous people of Malaysia, and the extensive backmatter provides additional information on the country, the rainforest, the Orang Asli, and the giant honeybees.