Blog Archives
Grow in Self-Esteem and Kindness
Bee-Coming Strong follows a free-spirited bee with a corkscrew antenna and glasses, which make her feel self-conscious in her hive who learns valuable lessons in self-confidence. What was the inspiration for your story?
The idea of the story originally came to me while I was living on Palomar Mountain. I noticed that children were often scared of bees that would come to drink at the little water fountain in the back of the restaurant where I worked. They would scream and run away. My experience was so different. When I would meditate outside, these little creatures would regularly walk around on the palms of my hands, exploring in a sweet and ticklish way. I thought I might one day write a Dr. Seuss-type book to help children become more curious about bees.
After I had to retire early due to a rare autoimmune disease and once Covid had started, I remembered the idea of the book and reached out to a few friends of mine who were therapists and caregivers. I asked them what children were dealing with these days and the answers I received were all very similar — and heartbreaking. They spoke of severe anxiety, bullying, poor self-esteem issues, and fear of change. I then knew I couldn’t write a cute little book but had to find a way of addressing these issues or give up the project entirely.
Nature was a haven for me during a troubled childhood which gave me a life-long appreciation of its wonder and healing power. My love for nature and my nearly 40 years of studying with a yoga master form the basis of Bee-Coming Strong. By combining my experience and knowledge of the two, my deepest desire is that it enables many children to gain confidence, kindness, and connection to one another and the natural world.
The art in this book is fantastic and really brings the character of Jazianzza to life. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Akiko Martinache?
Working with Akiko was truly wonderful. She is a good friend of my Indian astronomer friend, Garima Singh. One day Garima was walking with Akiko in Nice, France, when they saw some bees flying around a bouquet at an outdoor restaurant. Garima remembered that I had started writing the book and was trying to find an illustrator, and that was the beginning!
Akiko and I worked back and forth on every illustration until we were both satisfied with the outcome. Her patience and skill made it a joy to work with her. Akiko’s website is: https://akikomartinache.com/.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
I wrote the book on several levels; I wanted to afford children some simple yoga breathing techniques to become calm, and thus grow in self-esteem and kindness. I also wanted to provide enough facts about bees to inspire children to want to know more about not only bees but other aspects of nature.
In addition, at times little Jazianzza notices things like the difference in the way her wings work compared to the flapping of her new friend Lydah Butter Fly. I am hoping that this will inspire children to become more inquisitive about life around them. Paying attention to the details of nature can be enchanting. Hopefully, it will reduce their inclination to bury themselves in their devices. As a child growing up, I didn’t have that kind of distraction. Research is showing how destructive it can be to the welfare of our children, as well as ourselves.
I also alluded to the challenge presented by climate change and habitat loss for our pollinators. I’m hoping that children becoming more interested in bees and other wildlife at a young age will help them grow into young adults who will want to protect nature and be better stewards of it than the previous generations. I feel this is crucial to the survival of our planet.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your young readers expect in the next story?
Yes, it does seem that another book is emerging, this time focused on a Monarch caterpillar who has a lot of fears of change and has very poor self-esteem. Jazianzza gets a chance to teach him all the lessons she has learned from the queen bee, MamaQueenzieBee. When-oh-when will it come out? Hopefully next year! Readers can find more information about my books and sign up for my monthly newsletter at https://anandamayibaker.com.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
She’s got a corkscrew antenna and must wear big glasses. Will she always feel awkward in her hive? Will the wisdom of MamaQueenzieBee and her friend Tree be able to help her know that she is important just as she is, or will she forever have a sense that she is out of place?
A honey bee learns to navigate bullies, build self-confidence, and foster inner peace in this illustrated children’s book.
Jazianzza Azzaza Buzzabee is a young honey bee who cares for all creatures, including her new butterfly friend, Lydah, who recently had a scare after being chased by a hornet. Jazianzza is concerned, as is the rest of her hive, with the dwindling number of flowers to drink from and must cope with the bullying ways of her sister Sisizza and her gang. But luckily, MamaQueenzieBee (aka MamaQB) is there to help Jazianzza learn new ways to handle stress from without and within. MamaQB suggests that, just as bees shake off water from their wings, so should Jazianzza “shake off any sadness you feel. Shake off anything that isn’t you. Just because they’re not always happy doesn’t mean you should be the same way. Be Jazianzza in your own beautiful way.” The young bee later learns breathing techniques via a pollen ball placed on her stomach in order to emphasize the slow in-and-out breaths used to calm down. Everything Jazianzza discovers comes into play when she unexpectedly faces a hornets’ nest and must save her hive. Baker’s tale provides a compelling introduction to relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises and meditation—with readers being encouraged to try Jazianzza’s methods themselves—as well as different ways to approach bullying and learning to believe in yourself. The hero’s childlike wonder is adorable (and pairs well with the cartoonlike color illustrations by Martinache) and will spark a giggle or two, as when she’s remembering Lydah’s transformation into a butterfly: “She said that first she was an egg, and then a cat or a pillow or something like that, and she walked on the ground with a whole lot of legs!” This entertaining story delivers an engaging platform for adults to discuss meaningful issues with young audiences.
LITERARY TITAN 