A Classroom Celebration Leads to Important Questions in LITTLE BEE: THE BUZZ ABOUT THE PARTY

A class party sounds simple enough, until it starts to raise questions no one expected. In Little Bee: The Buzz About the Party (Annick Press), Bee is excited to plan a celebration with her friends, but the Mother’s Day theme gives her pause. With two dads at home, she is not sure how her family fits into what the class has in mind.

As Bee and the Winged Wonder gang get to work, those worries don’t just disappear, but they do start to shift. Talking it through with her friends and family, Bee begins to see that she is not the only one feeling left out, and that the party could look different if everyone has a say. The story keeps things grounded in everyday school life, with moments that feel familiar and real.

Author Danny Neville lets the questions unfold naturally, while Colleen McKeown’s illustrations add warmth and personality to Bee’s world. Little Bee: The Buzz About the Party keeps things light, but lands on something meaningful about inclusion and making space for all kinds of families.

Check out our interview with the author of this vibrant new book, which comes out on April 7th. Pre-order your copy here!

Open Book:

Tell us about your new book and how it came to be. What made you passionate about the subject matter you're exploring?

Danny Neville:

Little Bee: The Buzz About the Party follows a young girl with two dads as she navigates a Mother’s Day celebration at school. While the event is meant to be inclusive, some classmates make Bee feel like her family does not belong. Thankfully, her friends Tiam and Sarah stand by her. The story also explores Bee’s growing curiosity about her own birth story, including egg donation and gestational surrogacy.

I started writing the book in the summer of 2020, shortly after our oldest daughter was born. As a school librarian, educator, and parent, I was searching for books that reflected families like mine. I found some titles that explained different family structures, but I was looking for stories where kids like mine simply existed within everyday situations. I wanted children to see themselves in books without the story being solely about their family structure.

It also felt important that other kids encounter stories like this on their shelves, so these family experiences feel familiar rather than unfamiliar. My goal was to help demystify complex topics like IVF and surrogacy in a way that is accessible to young readers.

OB:

Did the book change during the writing process?

DN:

It definitely evolved. I originally imagined it as a picture book, but after writing about 1,500 words and still being in the opening scene, I realized that approach was not going to work. I shifted to writing a chapter book, which came with its own challenges.

Picture books are often read aloud by adults, but chapter books are usually read independently by children. That meant I had to think carefully about both accessibility and engagement. The language needed to be approachable, but the story also had to hold a young reader’s attention across multiple chapters.

OB:

Is there a character you relate to?

DN:

I relate strongly to Tiam, although his story is explored more fully in the second book. Each book in the series highlights a different character, even though they’re all told from Bee’s perspective.

Tiam’s experiences resonate with me. I was a kid who had more in common with the girls in my class than the boys, and at the time, that difference wasn’t always accepted. Tiam is growing up in a different environment, one where he still faces challenges but also has more freedom to explore who he is. That contrast is meaningful to me.

OB:

What do you need in order to write?

DN:

Like many people balancing work and family life, I write whenever and wherever I can. There’s no perfect setup. It’s more about making the most of the time available and staying focused when those windows open.

OB:

How do you cope with challenges during the writing process?

DN:

Persistence is key. Writing alongside a full-time job and parenting young children means progress can be slow. I try to accept that and keep moving forward when I can, even if it’s in small increments.

OB:

Are there misconceptions about writing for young people?

DN:

One common misconception is that it’s easier than writing for adults. In reality, it requires a great deal of precision. You have fewer words, but they need to carry a lot of meaning. You also have to balance clarity with depth, which can be surprisingly complex.

OB:

How would you describe the writing community in Canada for children’s authors?

DN:

It’s incredibly supportive. From my early days taking courses at George Brown College to connecting with organizations like CANSCAIP, I’ve consistently found people willing to share advice and encouragement.

At the same time, Canadian voices can sometimes struggle to be heard on a larger scale, especially alongside the influence of the U.S. market. That said, there’s a growing emphasis on supporting Canadian creators, which is encouraging.

OB:

What are you working on now?

DN:

I’m continuing work on the Little Bee series, with the third book currently in progress. Alongside that, I’m involved in various writing and editing projects, including my work with The Teaching Librarian magazine.

I also have a middle grade novel I’d like to return to, set at a summer camp and exploring themes of grief and identity. For now, I’m focused on finishing the current projects while balancing work and family life.

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Danny Neville is an educator and children's author from Ottawa, Ontario. He is actively involved in the world of school libraries as a former teacher-librarian and is a volunteer with the Ontario Library Association. The Little Bee books are his debut series.

Colleen McKeown is an illustrator and toy designer who lives in Halifax and loves the foggy mornings. She works mostly digitally and loves creating images that are colorful and playful with engaging characters.