Description: One day, when King Solomon was resting in his garden, a small bee accidentally stung the great king on his nose. Furious, the king summoned all possible offenders and demanded to know who had dared to sting him. A small bee came forward and, as it pleaded for the kings forgiveness, offered to repay him. King Solomon was amused by the bees earnest proposal, for how could such a little bee repay such a powerful king? Dalia Hardof Renbergs simple adaptation of this traditional story, pared with Ruth Hellers glorious illustrations, is a surprising and charming tale of how one small bee keeps its mighty promise.
Brief description: Dalia Hardoff Renberg is the author of Hello, Clouds! and The Complete Family Guide to Jewish Holidays. Ruth Heller was the author and illustrator of many highly praised books for children, including Up, Up and Away. She was also the illustrator of Shirley Climo's The Egyptian Cinderella.
Review Quotes: PreSchool-Grade 3-In this adaptation of the traditional legend, King Solomon is not only wise, but also able to talk to animals. After being stung on the nose, he summons all manner of insects to appear before him and demands to know who dared to attack him. A small bee confesses and begs forgiveness, promising to do the king a favor later. Solomon laughs, but the bee later helps him pass a test put to him by the Queen of Sheba. Renberg bases her version on a story in Hayyim Nahman Bialik's And It Came to Pass, but notes that its origins are unclear. The text is smoothly written in a direct style. Heller's realistic illustrations, full of decorative floral and architectural detail, invite browsing. Their lush colors and the interesting page composition attract and hold interest. The result is an appealing picture book.--School Library Journal