.Herbert Peabody and the Incredible Beehive

Herbert Peabody and the Incredible Beehive by Bianca C Ross, illustrated by Tabitha Emma Bray (Farinet Pty Ltd) HB RRP $18.95 ISBN 9780987595515

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

The first obvious thing about this self-published book is that it is beautifully presented, not just as a hardback but with a jacket cover; the quality of the paper and the book design are impeccable. On the fly pages, too, is something I loved as a child – a map of Huffleton and Mulberry Tree Farm which feature in the story.

This is the second story in the Herbert Peabody series, the first being Herbert Peabody and His Extraordinary Vegetable Patch. The author, a small-time farmer with an extensive marketing background in food companies, decided to create the series when she observed that children do not always understand where their food comes from. 

The book’s main character, Herbert, is a fruit and veggie farmer from Mulberry Tree Farm.  In his veggie patch Herbie discovers Bee who is in search of a place to build her hive. He grants her permission to check out his farm and then drives off to meet up with his nieces and nephew Henrietta, Clementine and Digby at the footie.

While chasing an errant ball, Herbie comes across the haunted Huffelton House where The Voice That Belongs to Nobody – a mean creature – lives. There is a mystery associated with the house and Herbie is determined to resolve it. When he discovers that his new neighbour, Bee, is having trouble finding enough pollen to supply her family’s hive, he also decides to lend a hand to find her more flowers.

Author Ross writes clearly and succinctly and children aged 7 to 9 years will doubtless enjoy her simple story-telling -- provided they are able to accept talking insects such as Worm, Ladybird and Bee. The book has a number of illustrations, some in black and white line, some in muted colour; they are all, like the narrative, simple and charming.

In the book’s Afterword, Ross tells of her concern about the crisis with bees; their populations are decreasing, and of course, without bees, food production as we know it will cease. The author deserves full credit for drawing the readers’ attention to this situation.

Herbert Peabody and his Extraordinary Vegetable Patch

Herbert Peabody and his Extraordinary Vegetable Patch by Bianca C. Ross, illustrated by Tabitha Emma Bray (Farinet Pty Ltd, distributed by Pan Macmillan)

HC RRP $18.95

ISBN 9780987595508

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

There are countless children that think their milk, fruit and vegetables come from a supermarket. They’re in for a shock for the National Curriculum has added sustainability to their list; a subject that will be of great value and benefit to children and their future. It will change their relationship to food forever. With very few books on the market of this kind, Bianca C. Ross has come up with a winner. This delightfully created and beautifully produced book addresses sustainability, and environmental productivity amongst other issues. It is the first in a five-book series.

Herbert Peabody is a farmer that supplies his farm grown vegetables and fruit to the local bakery. When Herbert’s niece Clementine and nephew Digby come to stay over at the farm, Herbert is faced with a challenge. Digby is only interested in his electronic games and Clementine in watching TV. Herbert is determined to teach the two city children how and where their vegetables and fruit come from.Theo Knead-a-lot’s bakery is under threat due to the lack of produce in the area. Can Herbert’s plan save the delicious products that the whole town enjoys? Will the outcome end in something magical for Theo, the children, and the whole community?

The characters have been ideally portrayed and the story focuses on getting children interested in the vegetables and fruit they eat, how it is grown and the benefits of growing your own produce. It also touches on creative gardening in small areas, the cycle of food, and how many people in the chain depend on farmers’ produce. Ideal for the 4-8 age group, it will instil in children an interest in the earth and environment, sustainability, and awaken in them the immense pleasure that can be derived from sowing a seed and watching it grow into the food we eat.