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Kids Nonfiction
Are Bees Nature's Tiny Heroes?: Discover the Science behind Melittology (The Big Questions Answered)

Are Bees Nature's Tiny Heroes?: Discover the Science behind Melittology (The Big Questions Answered)

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Author(s)

Eliza Jeffery

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Lays Bittencourt

Publisher

Beetle Books

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

February 04, 2025

ISBN

978-1835691311

Buy This Book

It's a big question―are bees nature's tiny heroes?

Bees are incredible, as are the melittologists who study them! Bees may seem small, but they make a huge contribution to our natural world. Check out . . .

the worker bees making wax out of honey
what our world would look like without our busy bees
how teamwork and communication mean habitats can flourish

. . . and so much more! Teamwork is key in a busy and successful hive, from the awesome way worker bees build such perfect honeycombs to the honeybees traveling miles to gather nectar. Everything about a bee's lifestyle is fascinating. Beautifully bound with stunning illustrations, this unique and collectable series will start a lifelong interest in science for curious kids. QR codes link to the Big Questions Answered website for comprehensive free teacher resources and a fun kids' pack.

Editor review

1 review

Important Information in an Easy-to-Read Format

August 10, 2025 (Updated: June 04, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

4.0

Learning Value

4.0

While this is marketed at readers in kindergarten through third grade, it is just the right length for older readers to use to learn a bit more about bees. It's a tiny bit long for a read aloud, but just has a couple of sentences on each page, which make it easy for impatient readers to move through quickly. Like Wheel of Fortune contestants who gain knowledge from reading middle grade books, actual middle graders can add to their information stores by reading books aimed at younger students.

The illustrations are done in a cartoon style that is well suited to older readers, and has a lot of earthy greens and browns with pops of bright colors for flowers. The words are positioned well, and easy to read.

There have been many good books about bees in the last few years, so add this to a list of apian tomes that includes Brunelle's Turn This Book into a Beehive, Sekaninova's Diary of a Bee, or Burn's The Hive Detectives, or use it as a nonfiction companion to Delaney's The Big Sting, McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me, Wientge's Honeybees and Frenemies, or Cartaya's The Lasts Beekeeper.

Good Points

It's important that young readers understand how valuable and endangered bees are, and this long picture book is a good way to introduce them to many critical topics surrounding out buzzy friends. Not only do bees help make sure that plants thrive, but humans have been using their products since the time of the ancient Egyptians! Information about how apian society is included, as are some of the challenges that bees face. There's a nice two page spread of different types of bees, as well as a beautifully illustrated flow chart of the pollination journey, bee facts, and a glossary and pronunciation guide.