Selling points
• BUZZING WITH STORIES: Author
J.F. Sénéchal returns with one of two follow-ups to 2023’s I Wish I Could Tell You, which received praise from The New York Times as well as a School Library Journal Caldenott Award.
• LITTLE ONES: Colette is aimed at readers aged three and up, but offers up a fun universe and important lessons that will edutain daycareand toddler-aged kids alike.
• -
• PARTY FOR ONE: Colette’s selfsufficient approach shows young readers there’s nothing wrong with being alone and, in fact, there are advantages to being both solitary and social.
• COLOR FULL: Illustrator Pascale Bonenfant dresses Colette’s world in a rich, vibrant color palette that’s sure to be visually pleasing to young readers, educators, and parents.
Colette
The Solitary Bee
Text: Jean-François Sénéchal
Illustrations: Pascale Bonenfant
Hardcover
44 pages
Width: 7.5”
Height: 9.5”
Ages: 3 to 7 Grade: P-3
Publication date: April 15, 2025
Full-color illustrations throughout
ISBN: 9781990252396
Price: US$17.99 CAN$22.99
Fiction
Distributed in the US by Abrams and in Canada by Manda Group
A heartwarming introduction to reading about how even solitary beings need people too
Anyone can make it on their own — just ask Colette! She’s a solitary bee who enjoys her own company more than anyone else’s and thrives on her independence. Colette can do just about anything by herself: day-to-day tasks, cleverly navigating the elements, and even setting out on solo adventures. But sometimes, even the most solitary bees need other insects around — like when things don’t go as planned, or when they simply have a good story to tell. Colette: The Solitary Bee is an adorable, heartwarming tale that shows us we can be proud to do things by ourselves, but it’s also pretty great to share our lived experiences with those around us.
Other titles by these creators
I Will Not Be Scared (Jean-François Sénéchal, Simone Rea - Milky Way Picture Books, 2024), I Wish I Could Tell You (Jean-François Sénéchal, Chiaki Okada - Milky Way Picture Books, 2023), Play with Jay! (Pascale Bonenfant - Osca Books, 2023), Oops! (Julie Massy, Pascale Bonenfant - Orca Books, 2023)
As the son of two teachers, JeanFrançois Sénéchal grew up around books. After studying anthropology for a time, he ultimately gravitated back to his first love, devoting himself entirely to literature. His stories have garnered him various honors, including the 2017 Joseph S. Stauffer Prize from the Canada Council for the Arts, and a Governor General’s Award for children’s literature.
Pascale Bonenfant uses drawing, collage, watercolor, and screen printing to bring her playful works of art to life. After studying design and visual arts at Laval University, she deepened her love for illustration by becoming a professor of graphic design. In recent years, her work has appeared in a wide range of exhibitions and publications, including more than a dozen books. She lives in Québec City, Canada.
