An unusual and artistic flight around the town of Manchester, this book uses the symbol of the Manchester working bee to celebrate everything special about the city.
Although the idea for this book is innovative and unique, it seems to deviate between describing the happenings in Manchester and then describing the activity of the bee. As a reader, I’d have preferred for everything to have obviously been seen through the bee’s eyes. Using the emblem of Manchester is a pretty ingenious although it’s a somewhat niche topic; certainly Mancunians and children from the city will love this book but I’m not sure it would have nationwide appeal. Still it’s a wonderful celebration of all its unique attractions.
Told again as a poem, Peter Johnson clearly has a skill for rhythm and rhyme. The swirling nature of the text adds to the rhythmic feel and you find yourself transported on a flight over one of the busiest city’s of the UK and immersed in the beautiful illustrations that really bring the place to life.
A bustling and vibrant look at one of the key cities of the UK, this book is more of an experience than a story and a gorgeous one at that. The Book Dragon awards this book 4 stars.
