{"id":7113,"date":"2024-01-25T16:33:46","date_gmt":"2024-01-25T16:33:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.florisbooks.co.uk\/blog\/?p=7113"},"modified":"2024-01-25T16:33:48","modified_gmt":"2024-01-25T16:33:48","slug":"the-bumblebee-garden-meet-the-creatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.florisbooks.co.uk\/blog\/2024\/01\/25\/the-bumblebee-garden-meet-the-creatives\/","title":{"rendered":"The Bumblebee Garden – Meet the Creatives!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Bumblebee Garden<\/a><\/em> is a charming new picture book from award-winning British author Dawn Casey and renowned Korean illustrator Stella Lim. The story follows young Ben as he helps in Grandpa’s garden through the year, learning all about the life cycle of bumblebees in the process. The lyrical story and luminous illustrations come together to highlight the importance of bee conservation and open the world of the bumblebee to young children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We spoke to Dawn and Stella about inspiration, their creative processes and the challenges of telling an appealing yet accurate bee story. They were even kind enough to offer a little advice for anyone looking to make a new beginning in writing or illustrating!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author Dawn Casey<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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What inspired you to write The Bumblebee Garden<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Years ago, my enjoyment of the gifts of the honeybee (gloopy honey and golden candlelight!) first fostered my gratitude for bees. Later, I realised what a vital role bees of many kinds play in creating the food we eat. Wild bees need help right now, and there are things we can do to help that are simple and easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I chose to write about the bumblebee in particular because it\u2019s a bee we all know \u2013  a familiar friend. I wonder if, perhaps, humans (as mammals) naturally feel a special sense of affection for small furry creatures, like the chubby fuzzy bumblebee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is it important to open a dialogue with young children about bees?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Actually, I see it the other way around! In my experience, young children are instinctively connected with the natural world. Being small themselves, they especially relate to other small beings \u2013 they greet snails and befriend bugs. I remember when I was a girl, lying under my garden hedge, talking to a woolly caterpillar. And when my daughter was little, if she ever found a dead bumblebee, she created a resting place for it, circling it with flowers. No one told her to honour the bee, she just knew it felt the right thing to do. So, perhaps, being with children can help us adults to remember that innate wisdom, to inspire our own actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Were you already familiar with the world of bees or did the book represent a journey of learning and discovery for you too?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I very much enjoyed learning about the life of the bumblebee! I\u2019m especially grateful to Alan Stewart, Professor of Ecology at the University of Sussex and convenor of the Royal Entomological Society\u2019s Insect Conservation Special Interest Group<\/a>, who generously gave his time and shared his expertise to double-check my own findings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The book does very well at presenting factual information without feeling \u2018educational\u2019 in tone. Was it challenging to strike this balance?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some instances, yes. I value clarity and my intention was to keep it simple. And I also value truth and authenticity, and <\/em>I enjoy the treasure-hunt of researching, exploring, discovering…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One thing I found helpful in integrating these different elements in the story was speaking the words aloud. I often tell my tales orally, without the written text. It helps me hear and feel how the words roll off the tongue, to keep the language clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was aware too of the unconscious paradigms that can be perpetuated in the language we use. For example, though \u2018worker bees\u2019 is the \u2018correct\u2019 scientific term, it uses the language of economic systems as a frame for understanding the natural world. I chose to use the word \u2018sisters\u2019 instead, which is still true, yet expresses the idea that nature is a family \u2013 an idea I believe better serves us, and all life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What advice would you give budding authors looking to write their own picture books?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n