Dig in! Picture Books about Bees

Thank you, Bees by Toni Yuly

With cheerful art and simple language, this book helps very young readers (and older ones, too!) make the connections between nature and themselves: “Bees give us honey. Thank you, bees...Dirt gives us plants. Thank you, dirt.” Encouraging curiosity, wonder and gratitude for the world around us, this beautiful story guides readers to ask questions. Whether we are walking around the block, or playing at the park, or working in our gardens, what do we see, and who can we thank?

The Thing About Bees: A Love Letter by Shabazz Larkin

“It’s brave to try to understand the things that scare us.” This powerful, moving message is at the heart of this book, which is also packed with helpful and playful information on bees. The author shares that he wrote this book because he was very afraid of bees, and he didn’t want to share that fear with his sons. The Thing About Bees includes an explanation of the pollination process, a ranked list of bees and wasps on a scale from “kind” to “kinda mean,” a guide to bee safety and etiquette, and much more.

The Honey Makers by Gail Gibbons

Have you ever thought about the origin of the phrase “to make a beeline”? Have you ever wondered how bees’ legs manage to hold pollen? This classic bee book, packed with information, including lots of labeled illustrations and a deep dive inside the hive, offers answers to these questions and so much more. It also includes facts on bees throughout history, two bee dances (can you try them at home?), and a beekeeper’s yearbook, showing month by month what a beekeeper and the bees are up to.

The Bee Book by Charlotte Milner

How is a worker honey bee born? How do honey bees talk to each other? This book tackles these engaging questions, along with important considerations for bees today and ideas for planting bee-friendly gardens. The table of contents and index make this one an especially great resource for research projects and helping young readers find specific information about bees.

The Beeman by Laurie Krebs and Valeria Cis

Written in an engaging format with a refrain that readers can follow along with and know what to anticipate, this book follows a boy and his grandfather, known locally as “the Beeman,” out to the hives to tend the bees. The reader learns many facts about beekeeping and all about the tools of a beekeeper. Bonus: Find a recipe for Grandma’s Apple and Honey Muffins in the back!

Bea’s Bees by Katherine Pryor and illustrated by Ellie Peterson

Curious Bea loves visiting a beehive on her walk through the park every day. When the bees are gone one day, Bea goes on a research mission to learn everything she can about them. This story offers a great introduction to the important work bees do as pollinators, and Bea teaches us how to plant wildflowers to help feed the bees. Learn more about bees, how you can help them, and how Whole Kids Foundation supports our bee friends.