Betsy and Bon
by Simon Howe

Full of nostalgia and charm, this deluxe hardcover collection of low-conflict short stories is the perfect gift for young readers.

Recommended age: 5 - 8

A$26.99

(Hardback)

Ships on 1/09/2026

Overview

‘We are bees, after all.’

Down at the bottom of the garden, where flowers grow tall and roots grow deep, Betsy and Bon play in a world full of whimsy and imagination.

They try to find friendly bees to live in their wonderful hive, decide on a game they will both enjoy, and have a picnic in the perfect sunny spot. With enchanting full-colour illustrations, this gentle short story collection is perfect for bedtime reading or for children transitioning from picture books to chapter books.

Details

NZ Booklovers on Going Home

‘Howe’s artwork is dreamy and detailed, with soft colours and edges … This is an exquisitely written and illustrated book that will foster many small, but deep, moments of connection.’

Kirkus Reviews on Going Home

‘A peaceful meander that’ll please quieter and curious preschoolers.’

StoryLinks on Shoosh!

‘This charming story … will appeal to a wide audience and is sure to become a firm favourite with its target audience.’

Reading Time on Shoosh!

‘With endearing and emotive little characters, Shoosh explores the world of pre-schoolers as they try to keep quiet while the baby sleeps … Simon Howe’s illustrations are bright, bold, and colourful, but not at all garish.’

Simon Howe

Simon Howe is an illustrator and author with a broad appetite for children's literature, animation, storytelling and design. He has worked with several notable Australian authors on books for children, and has designed and directed animation for advertising and television. Grounded in themes of childhood, family, hope and home, his work has been nominated for the Australian Book Industry Awards and the Australian Book Design Awards, and his first authored book, Shoosh!, has been distributed by the Bounty Bag network to over 60,000 children in Queensland.