Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera

Robert F. Sibert Medal Winner

Take to the sky with Apis, one honeybee, as she embarks on her journey through life!

An Orbis Pictus Honor Book
Selected for the Texas Bluebonnnet Master List
Finalist for the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books

A tiny honeybee emerges through the wax cap of her cell. Driven to protect and take care of her hive, she cleans the nursery and feeds the larvae and the queen. But is she strong enough to fly? Not yet!

Apis builds wax comb to store honey, and transfers pollen from other bees into the storage. She defends the hive from invaders. And finally, she begins her new life as an adventurer.

The confining walls of the hive fall away as Apis takes to the air, finally free, in a brilliant double-gatefold illustration where the clear blue sky is full of promise– and the wings of dozens of honeybees, heading out in search of nectar to bring back to the hive.

Eric Rohmann’s exquisitely detailed illustrations bring the great outdoors into your hands in this poetically written tribute to the hardworking honeybee. Award-winning author Candace Fleming describes the life cycle of the honeybee in accessible, beautiful language. Similar in form and concept to the Sibert and Orbis Pictus award book Giant Squid, Honeybee also features a stunning gatefold and an essay on the plight of honeybees.

Cook Prize Honor Book
A Kids’ Book Choice Award Finalist
An American Library Association Notable Children’s Book
A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
Named a Best Book of the Year by Kirkus Reviews, NPR, Shelf Awareness, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly and more!
A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book of the Year
A Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year!
A Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon Book
A Booklist Editor’s Choice
Named to the Texas Topaz Reading List
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

From the Publisher

“a wonder to behold.”

—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

Featuring a stunning center-fold spread that unfurls to nearly 38 inches, this lavishly-painted introduction to the life of a honeybee is full of intriguing facts and meticulous details, brought to you by the creators of the award-winning Giant Squid.

Backmatter, including the anatomy of Apis mellifera and information on bee research and conservation, makes this a valuable resource for learning about these important insects.

“Fleming uses lyrical language to describe just how jam-packed Apis’s short life is . . . Rohmann’s realistic oil-on-paper illustrations artfully capture close-up details”

—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Neal Porter Books; Illustrated edition (February 4, 2020)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0823442853
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0823442850
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 – 9 years, from customers
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD750L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 1 – 4
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.15 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.76 x 0.36 x 11.75 inches