Frank R. Stockton (1834–1902)

The Bee-Man of Orn, illustrated by P.J. Lynch

Poor but contented, the eponymous Bee-Man of Orn lived in a humble hut that had been transformed into a bee hive by all of his apian charges. Visited one day by a Junior Sorcerer, he discovered that he had once been something else, and assured by that magic maker that he could be transformed back into whatever he had once been, if only he could discover what it was, he set out on a quest to uncover his true nature. Passing through a village, a show more great lord's domain, and a mountain filled with dragons and evil spirits, the Bee-Man had many adventures. Saving a baby from one fierce dragon, he managed to restore the child to his grieving mother, and thereby learned the truth about his former self: he had once been a baby himself! Armed with this piece of knowledge, he was restored to his former self... but would it change who he truly was...?

Originally published in 1883 in the pages of St Nicholas Magazine, and then included in a somewhat different version in the 1887 The Bee-Man of Orn and Other Fanciful Tales, this original fairy-tale from 19th-century American writer and fabulist Frank R. Stockton was first made into a picture book in 1964, with illustrations by the immortal Maurice Sendak. This new picture book presentation, published in 2003, boasts the gorgeous artwork of Irish illustrator P.J. Lynch. I'm very glad to have finally tracked this story down, because I have been meaning to read it, and more of Stockton's work—I own a gorgeous old edition of The Queen's Museum and the Other Fanciful Tales from 1906—and because I always enjoy Lynch's beautiful work. I thought the central idea here was intriguing, despite not being sure whether it was that one's nature and fate were predetermined—after all, despite being turned into a baby again, and getting to live his life twice, the Bee-Man still ended up the Bee-Man—or that the nature of life itself is change, and one has always been something else before becoming what one currently is. The adventure itself was engrossing, and I appreciated the flashes of humor throughout, such as when the Bee-Man realizes he can never be a great lord, as he could never kick a poor old man. The accompanying artwork, done in watercolors, is simply breathtaking, with magical scene after magical scene, and a gorgeously warm color palette.

This is very wordy for a picture book. In truth, it's more of an illustrated short story. I'd recommend it to young fairy-tale and fantasy lovers, either slightly older children who can read well, or younger ones with a good attention span. I'd also recommend it to fellow P.J. Lynch fans. show less

This tightly written story is an engrossing tale for which you will need to write your own ending. Stockton does a great job of leading his readers right up to that non-ending end, from which you surely know, by the time you have finished the story, just how he meant for it to end . . . or do you? Alas, the debate goes on and on and on . . .

A definitely weird children's fairy tale that eschews moralism for philosophy ... in this case, whether, by returning to what we were in the past, we inevitably end up being what we are in the future. Is there any escaping our unfolding nature? A variant of the 'eternal return' for children. Strange.

A children's book for intelligent adults! Stockton wrote it more than one hundred years ago but it resonates in today's world. The bee-man is a contented person.At peace with his bees he 'walked among them, ate his meals, and went to sleep without the slightest fear of being stung.' Because a junior sorcerer declares that the Bee Man MUST have been magically transformed (why else would anyone want to live with bees?) a quest begins. Only after he discovers his 'previous self' can he be show more restored to it. Thereby hangs the tale!
This lovely book is a welcome counterpoint to discussions of self-identity. It is a book not to be missed! show less