Back of Book:
Kaia is the brave type. Like hottest-hot-pepper brave. But there is one thing that scares her: BEES! And right now, thousands of bees live on her roof because Kaia’s dad is a beekeeper. Her dad says that the world needs bees and that’s why they are beekeepers. But only he goes on the roof, not Kaia — unless she can find a way to be the brave girl she always says she is. Against a sunny city setting, author Maribeth Boelts and illustrator Angela Dominguez depict Kaia’s small courageous steps — and her tiny insect neighbors — with great empathy and charm. Buzzing with storytime potential, Kaia and the Bees is an honest and relatable tale about bravery and compassion, as well as the importance of bees to our world.
My Review:
I received a copy of this picture book from Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review.
Maribeth Boelts skillfully combined a story about facing your fears with nonfiction facts about how bees help the ecosystem. Kaia is a young girl who is not afraid of anything except bees. Her father, a beekeeper encourages her to face her fears and focus instead on all the wonderful gifts that bees give the world. Slowly Kaia realizes that bees contribute something amazing and should be celebrated not feared. The text is written in a first-person narrative and allows readers to connect with Kaia and her feelings. The illustrations by Angela Dominguez are bright and showcase bees and the honey-making process. A great addition to social and emotional learning as well as an introduction to bees and their habits.
Ages 5 and up
40 Pages
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