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The Bee TreeFor almost a decade, Tucson desert dwellers Paul Mirocha and
Steve Buchmann, along with co-author, Diana Cohn from Sausalito, CA, have been
traveling to the Malaysian rain forest, half a world away, to work on The
Bee Tree, a new children's picture book, featuring paintings by Paul Mirocha, published
by Cinco Puntos Press in April 2007.
The Bee Tree is about people living with nature. It tells the story of a Malaysian boy, Nizam, living in a village near the rain forest. His grandfather, the leader of the honey hunting clan, is growing too old to climb the great bee tree and decides that Nizam is the one to take his place. No one knows where the bees come from, or where they go after they leave the bee tree. But they come back every year. From his grandfather, he learns the secrets of the honey hunters that has allowed them to climb the 200 foot "tualang" or bee tree, in the darkness of the new moon and collect the valuable honey of the giant wild asian bees without harm. By lamplight in the honey hunters forest camp, the reader also hears the ancient story of the origin of the bees, and about the deep relationship these villagers have with these migrating bees, the forest, the other species that call it home, and the "unseen owner" of the forest. The Bee Tree is an intercultural exchange between involving individuals from different countries whose governments do not always trust each other. Yet the characters in the book are real people who through the course of the project became friends and collaborators with the traveling authors. Without that basis of mutual acceptance of, and respect for, differences in religion and culture, the book would not exist. It's also an accurate description of one of the most beautiful and oldest forests on earth. As in other tropical places, this forest is in danger as humans seek to tap the treasure of its resources. The story of the Malaysia honey hunters shows a base of traditional knowledge and values that teaches children and adults to conserve wild places complete, with every thread of life intact. That's the kind of forest that the bees will return to every year. — Paul Mirocha Listen to an interview with Steve Buchmann about the Honey Hunt on NPR's Environmental Report, sponsored by The Nature Conservancy
AwardsThe Bee Tree was chosen for Special Recognition by the judges for the 2008 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People. The Bee Tree was also chosen as a 2008 Skipping Stones Honor Award book! The 15th Annual Skipping Stones Honor Awards recognize 26 exceptional books and teaching resources. Together, they encourage an understanding of the world’s diverse cultures, as well as nature and ecological richness. The selection promotes cooperation, nonviolence, respect for differing viewpoints, and close relationships in human societies. Buy a signed copy of The Bee TreePlease contact Paul for signed copies of The Bee Tree or any other of his books. The special price, available only from this web site is $16.00 (plus shipping, if applicable). Retail price at bookstores is $17.95. For more of the Malaysia travel story, please see:
Mr. Goethe's Garden
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While researching this book, author Diana Cohn and I traveled to Goethe's house, now restored as a museum, in Weimar, Germany. I too drew and painted in Mr. Goethe's garden. So you can be sure that this book is the real thing.
Contact Paul to order a signed copy
of Mr. Goethe's Garden
Or find the book at Amazon
Books.
art by Paul Mirocha from Mr. Goethe's Garden
(watercolor and digital painting combined)
Platypus!
Platypus! for Random house was a fun book to illustrate, especially do all the research. It definately beats "Dick and Jane" for learning to read, and makes a great gift for any cute mammal.
And after getting through Platypus!, you will definately be ready for...
They're mean. They're green. They're Hungry Plants!
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