The Royal Bee
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Some kids will enjoy the quiet mood.
Why We Rated This
for Ages 4 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Sexy stuff:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Royal Bee was written by Whitney Stewart
Parents need to know that there's no objectionable content in this story of a poor boy striving to improve his family's life.
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about Song-ho's determination. What kind of future does he face without an education? How does he earn the respect of his teachers and classmates?
More on The Royal Bee
Book Summary
He is later rewarded for his persistence and intelligence. In a note that prefaces the story authors Frances and Ginger Park write that their book was inspired by the true story of their grandfather's experiences.
Is It Any Good?
Brave and determined Song-ho is so good, so kind, and so determined to become a scholar that he hardly seems real, and his mother, his teacher, and his classmates feel equally remote. Readers may ask if Song-ho's mother ever wondered what her son did all day, of if any of Song-ho's privileged classmates ever resented the boy's acceptance into school. Or how the teacher managed to break school rules and accept Song-ho as a student without suffering consequences. The inconsistencies in the illustration are frequent and noticeable.
Despite the limitations of the characters' emotional lives, the story is an inspirational one for children, and perhaps for teachers too. Child readers cannot miss the message that an education is essential for a child's secure future. Song-ho comes right out and asks the question, "How can I grow up to earn a good living for my mother when I cannot read or write?"
Publisher’s Details
Number of pages: 27, Price: $8.95 (paperback)
Read Aloud: 4-6, Read Alone: 6-8

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