Thematic Reading List: Bees, bees, bees!

World Honey Bee Day is a time to celebrate the work that honey bees do to pollinate foods and flowers so that plants and animals can continue to thrive. Though sometimes scary, it is important to learn as much about these creatures as possible to protect them and support their survival. This book list is designed for ages 5-8 and includes a mix of fiction and non-fiction titles. Increased understanding and awareness can lead to positive outcomes for everyone!
Contributed by: Mary Lanni
 
 
 
 
  
 

	Bea’s Bees By: Katherine Pryor Illustrated by: Ellie Peterson Beatrix discovers a wild bumblebee nest on her way home from school and finds herself drawn to their busy world. When her bees mysteriously disappear, Bea hatches a plan to bring them back. Can Bea inspire her school and community to save the bees? Filled with fascinating facts about bumblebees and ideas to help preserve their environment, BEA’S BEES encourages kids to help protect bees and other pollinators.
	Bear and Bee By: Sergio Ruzzier A hungry bear discovers that bees are not terrible monsters who never share their honey.
	Bees By: Sally Morgan You may know where honey comes from, but did you know that bees’ wings beat more than 200 times a second, that a queen bee can lay more than 2,000 eggs a day, and that the ancient Egyptians used honey for money? Find out about bees – there is more to them than the buzz! Part of the Down on the Farm series.
	Bees By: Debbie Gallagher and Brendan Gallagher Provides thorough explanations of each minibeasts’ physical features, habitat, diet, life cycle, and unique behaviors.
	Bees By: Rebecca Rissman This book uses simple rhymes and engaging images to teach readers about bees.
	Bees By: Deirdre A. Prischmann A brief introduction to bees, discussing their characteristics, habitat, life cycle, and predators. Includes a range map, life cycle illustration, and amazing facts.
	Bee: A Peek-through Picture Book By: Britta Teckentrup Through a hole in the book’s cover, a bee is buzzing inside a flower. Peek into this bright and lively book and discover the big ways this little insect contributes to the beauty of the environment, from pollinating colorful flowers to buzzing about the bright and beautiful meadow.
	Bee Dance By: Rick Chrustowski A honeybee searches for nectar then returns to the hive to tell the other bees. She does a waggle dance, moving in a special figure-eight pattern to share the location of the food source with her hive mates. With vivid and active images, Rick Chrustowski brings these amazing bees to life!
	Bee-wigged By: Cece Bell Jerry Bee, having trouble making friends because of his enormous size, puts on a wig and discovers he looks just like a boy, and his kindness wins him many admirers–who just might be scared away when they learn he is really a bee.
	Big City Bees By: Maggie De Vries Illustrated by: Renn E. Benoit Follows a couple of city kids through the course of a year as they wonder how bees will find the pumpkins that they plan to grow, and the bees work to bring nectar and pollen to their hive.
	Flight of the Honey Bee By: Raymond Huber Illustrated by: Brian Lovelock Demonstrates how Scout the bee searches for nectar to sustain her hive and pollinates flowers to produce seeds and fruits.
	Give Bees a Chance By: Bethany Barton An enthusiastic bee-loving narrator tries to convince a bee-phobic friend that our fuzzy, flying neighbors are our friends–we should all give bees a chance!
	Happy Bees By: Arthur Yorinks Illustrated by: Carey Armstrong-Ellis Rhythmic text describes the carefree life of bees as they sting knees, munch on Swiss cheese, and laugh in the breeze.
	Honey Bees By: Jill Esbaum In this charming picture book, curious little kids will learn all about the bustling world of honeybees and the important role they play in our delicate ecosystem. These engaging Explore My World picture books on subjects kids care about combine simple stories with unforgettable photography. They invite little kids to take their first big steps toward understanding the world around them and are just the thing for parents and kids to curl up with and read aloud.
	Honey Bees By: Colleen A. Sexton Simple text accompanied by full-color photographs gives an up-close look at honey bees. Intended for kindergarten through third-grade students.
	The King of Bees By: Lester L. Laminack Illustrated by: Jim LaMarche Henry is fascinated by the bees his Aunt Lilla cares for, and he would love to help, but she says he must wait until he is older.
	Little Bee By: Edward Gibbs Simple rhyming text follows a bee through the jungle as a series of creatures, including a hungry frog, a mongoose, and a lion, flee from what frightens them.
	These Bees Count! By: Alison Formento Illustrated by: Sarah Snow Mr. Tate’s class visits a bee and honey farm, where Farmer Ellen teaches the children how to listen to the bees talk.