Honeybee: The Busy Life of APIs Mellifera

This is book is beautifully illustrated depiction of the life stages of a honey bee, faithful to the anatomy and physiology of Apis mellifera and the different duties of a worker. It is also a gentle introduction for children to the cycle of life. My daughter loves this book (and we have several on the same subject).

I ordered “Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera” immediately after reading its positive review by the inestimable beekeeper, Kim Flottum, in the May 2020 issue of "Bee Culture." My three-year old great grandson Charlie who is an aspiring beekeeper and I were not disappointed.“Honeybee…” is lavishly illustrated with beautiful art, and the accompanying dialogue is insightful with lessons on the life cycle of honey bees. The book also includes a useful two-page diagram of the bee’s body parts and two pages of reference material.My only somewhat critical comment deals with the use of ‘nest” by the authors. Although it may be technically correct, the term “nest” is usually associated with wasps, hornets, chickens, and the hateful yellow jackets. “Colony” and “hive” are the words more commonly used by beekeepers to describe honey bees. I also prefer “honey bee” over “honeybee.”As a certified North Carolina beekeeper with seven years’ experience, I wholeheartedly recommend this superb book to the general public, to folks with small children, and even to experienced beekeepers.

This is a beautifully illustrated book about a fascinating topic. I bought two copies - one to keep at my house and one for a nephew. But I did want to give a small warning - the bee life cycle described includes a page where the bee dies and the way it is described is very sad, easily enough to make sensitive children (and adults!) cry. Clearly the author was successful at getting us to empathize with these fascinating insects.

I love finding kids books that are so well written and packed with great information ....this one also had great illustrations....I actually learned a lot of things about Bees I didn't realize!!! This book is especially appreciated by children who thrive on learning....and are always seeking to know all about something they encounter in their lives....it's not a heavy read...but so informative ...it's a great book to teach children about bees and the importance of them in the world...a good book when kids are in the mood to learn. I have a smart cookie 6 year old nephew and a 10 year old niece who both loved learning from this book....As an adult...I loved it, too. Recommend.

My husband & I are professional beekeepers and love this book. When our daughter brought this book home from the book mobile, I decided to buy her a copy of her own.This book is an accurate depiction of the life of a honeybee, without being too dull for young readers.I have since also recommended this book to community garden groups as a way to share beekeeping with youth.*note: though I bought this book for a 5 year old, it is appropriate for older readers too