In Harlem Honey: The Adventures of a Curious Kid, the story begins as Moses and his parents have recently moved to Harlem, away from the comfort and familiarity of the only home he has known. The quiet sounds of nature that brought him joy in Texas have been replaced by the loud, chatty strangers and honking car horns of Harlem. Normally curious, he now feels lost, lonely, and out of place.

His Mom’s attempts to cheer Moses with cutesy rhymes fall on deaf ears. He is, after all, a first grader. Promises of a neighborhood exploration with Dad are not that appealing. The tranquility of drawing in his bedroom is suddenly disrupted, not by the noises that have troubled him since moving to Harlem but by the intrusion of one buzzing bee, then another, and another. The unexpected visit is just what Moses needs. His curiosity about the origin of the bees introduces Moses to his first new friend and the opportunity to learn about the historical Harlem neighborhood surrounding his new home.

Laila and her mother, Mrs. Louise, have a honey farm on their brownstone rooftop. There are plants, bees, and honey. “Moses couldn’t believe his eyes.” He also can’t believe his taste buds. The jar of fresh honey he and his father sample is delicious. He wonders if his new friends have shared their sweet treats with others in the community.

With his pets Lotus-May and JoJo close by, Moses, Laila, and their parents take off to let the neighbors know about the delectable home-grown honey. Their adventure leads them to well-known Harlem hot spots that include Sylvia’s restaurant, the Apollo Theater, the Studio Museum, and a tour of the rich cultural diversity that makes the community so unique.

With her debut children’s picture book, Harlem Honey, Emmy Award-winning journalist, talk-show host, and author Tamron Hall depicts what it’s like for a young child to discover his sense of belonging. Hall also gives us a glimpse into storied Harlem and opens our eyes to the relatable and the not-so-familiar. Who knew Harlem was home to beekeepers and honey harvesting? While many children, if not most, would have shut the window to keep the bees out, Moses’s curiosity leads him to a new friendship and an appreciation of his new home.

Hall’s lively tone and spirited writing capture Moses’s fear and uneasiness with being in new surroundings and later the fun he experiences as he embarks on an adventure. The sweetness of the story is enhanced by Atlanta-based illustrator Ebony Glenn’s colorful work. The technique of outlining and positioning Moses and the other characters in place on the page lends itself to the feeling of having been removed from the familiar. Moses gives the appearance of being small and out of place, his eyes barely visible. As he opens himself to the new adventure, his eyes widen and you see that he is beginning to accept his exciting surroundings. The surprised look in the eyes of the other characters welcome the reader in as well. By the book’s end, the white outlines are honey colored, and you know that Moses is happy and truly feels at home in Harlem. The book also lists some facts “All About Harlem” at the back so the reader and the youngsters in their lives can explore Harlem on their own.