Why I Wrote Bumblely Bee’s Bum

When people first hear the title Bumblely Bee’s Bum, they usually smile… or laugh.

That was exactly the reaction I was hoping for.

After all, if a funny title can persuade a child to pick up a book about bees, then perhaps it’s the perfect place to begin.

I’ve cared about bees and the natural world for as long as I can remember. Long before writing this book, I was learning about pollinators, habitat loss and the incredible role bees play in keeping our world blooming. Their importance has always fascinated me, and I’ve tried to make small choices in my own life to support them wherever I can.

Living in rural France has only strengthened that appreciation. Every spring and summer our garden comes alive with buzzing bees, butterflies and wildflowers, and my boys have grown up surrounded by nature. Watching them stop to examine a bee on a flower or listen to the gentle hum of insects reminded me just how naturally curious children are.

One evening we watched The Secret Life of Bees together. Although much of the information wasn’t new to me, seeing it through their eyes reminded me how important it is to pass that knowledge on to the next generation while they’re still young enough to be filled with wonder.

While writing the story, I also thought a lot about what happens when a bee stings. One of the facts that has stayed with me for many years is that, for many honey bees, stinging a person is usually fatal. If someone can remain perfectly still and allow the bee to free herself without pulling away, she may survive, but it’s an incredibly difficult thing to do, especially when stings are so painful. I knew I didn’t want to include a sad or graphic death scene in a picture book for young children, but I did want to capture the idea that a bee doesn’t sting lightly. For Bumblely, her sting represents a desperate last resort, not something she ever wants to use. I hope that message of empathy comes across, even without showing what happens afterwards.

I didn’t want to write a book that lectured children.

I wanted to write a story that made them laugh first.

A story about a little bee with an enormous fluffy bum.

A bee who loved flowers, sunshine and collecting pollen.

A bee who would much rather dance from flower to flower than frighten anyone.

As I was writing, my youngest son, Ash, couldn’t stop wandering around the house saying, “Bumblely Bee’s Bum!”

Again…

And again…

Usually followed by fits of giggles.

At that point I knew the title wasn’t going anywhere!

Behind the humour is a message that’s very close to my heart.

Bees aren’t aggressive creatures looking for someone to sting. Most of the time they’re simply busy doing one of the most important jobs in nature, quietly pollinating the plants that produce so much of the food we eat and helping our gardens, meadows and countryside burst into life each year.

Sometimes, though, they become frightened.

If a giant came running towards you waving their arms, you’d probably panic too.

That’s the heart of Bumblely’s story.

Rather than teaching children to fear bees, I wanted to encourage them to understand them. To see the world, just for a moment, from the perspective of a tiny creature surrounded by enormous humans.

I hope Bumblely helps children slow down, watch a bee visiting a flower, and choose curiosity over fear.

Because if even one child grows up appreciating these remarkable little pollinators, then every giggle inspired by Bumblely’s enormous bum will have been worthwhile.

Bringing Bumblely to Life

Once the book was finished, I wanted to create something a little extra for children and families.

So I decided to produce a little animated story to accompany the book.

Rather than creating a polished cartoon, I wanted it to feel as though the pages of my sketchbook had come to life. The animation uses the same quirky coloured-pencil style as the illustrations, with gentle movement, scribbly lines and plenty of Bumblely’s personality shining through.

If you’d like to meet Bumblely before reading the book, or simply enjoy the story together at home, you can watch the animated read-aloud below.