New York City is busy and very exciting,
Lots of people and buses and towers.
But it’s not an easy place to be a bee
Because it’s so hard to find flowers.
Little Bee was born in a cool winter month
When even the parks were bare.
Every bee in the hive was cold and hungry,
There wasn’t any honey to spare.
Little Bee knew she had to work hard,
She must get some pollen and quick.
Such luck! A woman with a big floral hat!
Real daisies with nectar to lick!
She sat her stinger on the colorful cap
And puffed pollen all over her hide.
She didn’t even hear the door slam shut.
The lady and the hat were inside!
But where they were Little Bee knew not,
A dark hall with a star on each room.
The lady went in, switched on the lights,
It was filled with clothes and perfume!
Makeup, jewels, paints and powders,
She had never seen such a glittery place!
The hat was sat down on a round fancy table
And the lady started prettying her face.
“Ten minutes, Miss Lilly!” she heard a man say,
Lilly put on shoes, a gown and feathers.
Then Little Bee followed her down the hall,
To the speakers, the curtains, the tethers.
She knew right then where she must be!
It was The Theater! Showbiz! Broadway!
She floated with Miss Lilly out onto the stage.
Was this her big break? Would she be in a play?
Sadly, the performance was terribly dull,
The audience was restless and fickle.
Little Bee thought she could make the show better,
She would just give Miss Lilly a tickle…
“EEEK!” Lilly cried when she buzzed in her sleeve
And “OOOH!” when she tapped her nose.
Now she was dancing and kicking quite well!
They all cheered when Lilly spun on her toes!
More actors came out and took over Lilly’s lines,
But Little Bee would not let them lumber.
She buzzed in: Arms up! Twirl and then kick!
Bee directed a fabulous number.
It was over too soon, the curtain came down,
Little Bee hovered in front of her fans.
She dipped a bow then gasped in surprise!
Roses flew as they clapped their hands!
Little Bee dropped onto the soft bed of petals.
She was a star, the happiest insect alive!
Her tummy and legs were covered with pollen,
She’d be a hero back at the hive.
Now she waits every day for an actor to pass.
She’s on Broadway and on Broadway she’ll stay.
Now that she’s found flowers beneath the stage lights,
She doesn’t want them any other way.
But one day Little Bee returned to the hive
And her buddy the drone gave a huff.
“I suppose you buzzed with dancers all day
And brought home that showbiz stuff?”
“What’s wrong with stage pollen?” cried Little Bee
Why was her friend being so mean?
“Little Bee, there are flowers on every street corner!
Must you really be such a Queen?”
Thank you, MotherJam for the idea to shorten Bee on Broadway into a simpler story for little kids. I did it and I made it rhyme! Let me know what you think!
The cute bee picture is borrowed from Pass Milord the Rooster Juice. This text is intended to be a picture book for children. Feedback is appreciated. © Katie Bieker, 2013.
I like this. Very cute. Going forward with this, you might want to think about what the illustrations would be (maybe you already have). This gives an idea of how you would be grouping the words and you can figure out how you could modify it to make it flow even better. I look forward to reading more of your stories!
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