The ZomBees by Justin Colon

The second I saw this title and the very green bees buzzing around, my curiosity peaked. It also remind me of a joke from my childhood:

Knock, knock.

Who's there?

Zombies.

Zombies who?

Zombies make honey. Others just buzz around.

I'm just going to leave that there, save everyone from a complete headache, and dive right in!

THE ZOMBEES

by Justin Colon

Illustrated by Kaly Quarles

Simon & Schuster

Picture Book

32 pages ages 4 to 8

COMING JULY 15th!!!

A swarm of zombie bees invades an unsuspecting town on Halloween night in this delightfully spooky and highly charming picture book from the author of The Quacken—perfect for fans of Creepy Carrots and Los Gatos Black on Halloween.

What’s that creepy buzzing sound coming from the graveyard ground?

ZOMBEES!

When these undead insects invade, they send everyone fleeing in fright.

Are they hunting for a snack?
Do they like the taste of veins?
Have they come to eat your brains?!

Find out in this rhyming Halloween tale with an unexpected twist!

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Silliness with a touch of spooky thrill creates a fun read for those darker hours...with laughter on the side.

A young girl heads to the cemetery on Halloween to find a very creepy atmosphere. Green things are rising from the ground and they are...Zombees! She heads back to the streets, where Trick-or-Treaters are underway and warns of the upcoming terror, which sets everyone into action in the most delightful ways. As the horror of what these Zombees might eat spreads and strikes chills, a huge surprise turns everything on its head.

This is a cute, fun, and energetic read with a satisfying twist. These Zombees carry a touch of odd creepiness mixed with silliness to make humor with a dab of uneasiness come across wonderfully. The reactions are even over-the-top to promise giggles. The illustrations make the atmosphere sit with the imaginative and well-created Zombees and scenes. These add visual humor to enhance every two-page spread.

The text carries a lyrical feel and leads the readers through the girl's adventures. It's kept short...two-lines per page...to keep even reluctant listeners engaged. The rhymes flow smoothly without feeling forced and build each moment so that the illustrations can take it from there.

It's a cute read with just the right amount of eerie possibility to create delightful chills and laughter.

And here they are...

Justin Colón is a professional actor and children's book author. His previous picture books include The Quacken (illustrated by Pablo Pino) and Impossible Possums, (illustrated by James Rey Sanchez). A lover of Halloween and zombie movies, Justin is also a backyard beekeeper. Though his bees sometimes frighten the neighbors, they’ve never tried to eat their brains—something Justin takes great pride in. He lives in New York, but you can visit him at JustinColonBooks.com.

Kaly Quarles studied interior design and worked in architecture before landing in illustration. Her love for historic shopfronts, Victoriana, and vintage ephemera runs deep. When Kaly isn’t drawing with a cat in her lap, she’s hunting for obscure antiques, watching or reading historical fiction, or hosting one-woman pastry-eating contests.