Bea’s Bees

Gr 1-4–Buzz, buzz! A busy beehive creates the soundtrack of Bea’s walk home from school. Every day, the child stops to watch the bees fly out and back again, collecting nectar for the others in the hive. Bea loves observing their behavior until one day, an ominous silence indicates to her that the bees are gone. She asks both her science teacher and librarian for answers, but they themselves are unsure. Therefore, Bea takes things into her own hands and sets about bringing the bees back. An empowering story, this book shows readers that one person—no matter the age—can make a big difference. The lovely illustrations are a pleasure to behold, and the bees manage to be realistic and yet not intimidating. While this is a work of fiction, the author and illustrator use true facts about bees and what is happening to them, including a guide for readers to take steps to preserve the bees remaining in the world. A beautiful final touch includes drawings of each wildflower seen in the book accompanied by its appropriate name.