PEN ODYSSEY Stories to grow into.Meet the book

A little ant. A very big possibility.

Andy the AntThe Bee He Was
Meant to Be

By Dr. John Elcik

He wasn’t meant to crawl.
He was meant to fly.
At least, that’s Andy’s plan.

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A middle-grade adventure with humor and heart

Andy the Ant: The Bee He Was Meant to Be, by Dr. John Elcik. The original cover shows Andy wearing bee stripes and wings in a colorful flower garden.Small feet. Sky-high dreams.
A small story with room to soar

01 / The impossible dream

Destiny has made
a small clerical error.

While the other ants march in neat lines and dig perfect tunnels, Andy watches the bees glide overhead. Their wings catch the sunlight. Their confidence makes flying look easy.

So he sets out to become the bee he believes he was meant to be. His determination is impressive. His engineering needs work.

01

Build the wings.

Wax wings. Questionable engineering. What could possibly go wrong?

02

Learn the dance.

Bee dance lessons, performed with enthusiastic inaccuracy.

03

Try. Land. Repeat.

Flight attempts that test his courage—and his dignity.

02 / More than wings

What if growing
doesn’t mean becoming
someone else?

Beneath the melted wax and midair miscalculations, Andy is asking a bigger question: where do I belong?

As ants and bees respond to his determination, an unexpected partnership begins. One ant’s impossible dream becomes a story about friendship, resilience, and the strengths he hasn’t yet noticed.

03 / Find your place

For readers with
dreams of their own.

A playful middle-grade animal fantasy for readers who enjoy funny mishaps, unlikely friendships, and adventures with something to say.

For anyone finding their way between fitting in and standing out, Andy offers laughter—and a little encouragement to keep growing.

Friendship · Belonging · Courage

Original cover of Andy the Ant – The Bee He Was Meant to Be by Dr. John Elcik

Let Andy’s adventure begin

You may not need
wings to rise.

Andy the Ant – The Bee He Was Meant to Be

By Dr. John Elcik

Get the book on Amazon