Common Sense Media Review
By Mandie Caroll
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Beautiful book shows drama and science of bee life cycle.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In HONEYBEE: THE BUSY LIFE OF APIS MELLIFERA, we meet Apis as she claws her way out of her wax cell. The text marks time by Apis' age. At 3 days old, her body prepares to nurse larvae, at 8 days old, she moves on to tend the queen. She goes on to build cells for eggs, handle food that forager bees have brought back from flowers, and guard the entrance to the hive, among other roles. Finally (at least for the reader who's been eagerly anticipating this moment), Apis takes flight and leaves the hive for her last new job as a forager bee. A sad, but peaceful end to the story is followed by a helpful diagram and discussion full of interesting facts and resources for further learning.
Is It Any Good?
This enchanting book captures all the wonder and work of a honeybee's life. While the free-verse poetic text in Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera creates a pleasing rhythm that is read-aloud gold, the art expertly supports the educational work of the text. Within the dim and nearly colorless confines of a beehive, Rohmann yields browns, blacks, and yellows to render the honeybees in intricate and beautiful detail, down to the tiny hairs on bee legs. Descriptions of the intricate dance Apis does to give directions to other forager bees and the astonishingly small amount of honey one bee's collected nectar produces in their lifetime will fascinate readers.
Author Candice Fleming smartly creates anticipation by ending each spread with the question: s it time for Apis to fly? "Not yet," the next page answers, followed by an explanation of the next in-hive job she will do. A breathtaking double fold-out spread marks Apis' first flight into fields of colorful flowers and a bright blue sky. It's a lovely "oooh" and "ahhh" moment as readers, too, experience Apis' first taste of freedom. This flair for drama makes the book shine and the science go down easy. This is a delightful pick that will wow budding entomologists and bee-haters alike.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the various jobs Apis does before getting to fly in Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera. How do these different jobs contribute to the health or functioning of the hive? What do you have to do at home or school to contribute to the functioning of your family or classroom community?
What did you learn about honeybees that surprised you or that you found fascinating? Why was this so interesting to you?
What does the author and/or illustrator do to keep young readers interested in learning about honeybees? How does "flying" create suspense for the reader?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Eric Rohmann
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : STEM , Animals ( Bugs )
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Neal Porter Books
- Publication date : February 4, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 6 - 9
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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