Dalia Phillips

Akeelah (Keke Palmer) sees the Scripps National Spelling Bee on TV for the first time.

Akeelah (Keke Palmer) participates in her first ever spelling bee, Crenshaw Middle School's first school wide bee.

One of Akeelah's (Keke Palmer) opponents is caught cheating, so she gets a second chance to move onto the next round.

Akeelah (Keke Palmer) studies with her coach Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne). He says if she learns lots of small words, she'll be able to spell all the big words.

Akeelah (Keke Palmer) studies for the Scripps National Spelling Bee with the members of her community.

Akeelah And The Bee movie trailer - starring Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, Curtis Armstrong, Keke Palmer, Tzi Ma. Directed by Doug Atchison. Theatrical Release Date: 4/28/2006 Genre: Drama Rating: Not Rated

Akeelah and the Bee -- A young girl from South Los Angeles tries to make it to the National Spelling Bee.

Akeelah and the Bee -- MovieMaze.de - Trailer (Quicktime)

Akeelah and the Bee -- A young girl from South Los Angeles tries to make it to the National Spelling Bee.

Akeelah and the Bee -- A young girl from South Los Angeles tries to make it to the National Spelling Bee.

An inspirational drama, Akeelah and the Bee is the story of Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer), a precocious eleven-year-old girl from south Los Angeles with a gift for words. Despite the objections of her mother Tanya (Angela Bassett), Akeelah enters various spelling contests, for which she is tutored by the forthright Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne); her principal Mr. Welch (Curtis Armstrong) and the proud residents of her neighborhood. Akeelah?s aptitude earns her an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and in turn unites her neighborhood who witness the courage and inspiration of one amazing little girl.

Akeelah and the Bee -- A young girl from South Los Angeles tries to make it to the National Spelling Bee.