They Work: Honey Bees, Nature's Pollinators
What’s inside...
June Smalls offers a close-up, fact-filled look at the life of honey bees, spotlighting how each worker, drone, and queen contributes to the hive and how bees’ pollination keeps entire ecosystems—and our food supply—alive. With vivid language and detailed illustrations, the book follows a single day in and around a bustling hive, explaining jobs such as gathering nectar, doing the waggle dance, tending brood, and protecting the colony. Children discover why bees matter, what threatens them, and how people of all ages can help protect these extraordinary insects.
Age
5-8
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Queen Bee
Drone Bee
Worker Bee
Discussion points
Why are bees called nature’s helpers?
How does each bee’s job support the whole hive?
What everyday choices can we make to protect pollinators?
How might our meals change without bees?
What surprised you most about bee communication?
Tip: Role play these questions
Visit a garden or park to spot real pollinators after reading.
Create a simple bee bath or plant seeds together.
Draw a waggle-dance map of your neighborhood flowers.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: Bees split work among foragers, nurses, and guards.
Real-World Application: Share chores at home or in class to reach goals faster.
Example Lesson: Environmental Stewardship
Explanation: Readers learn how pesticides and habitat loss harm bees.
Real-World Application: Plant native flowers or reduce chemical use in gardens.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Each bee completes its task without supervision.
Real-World Application: Finish personal responsibilities like homework on time.
Example Lesson: Communication
Explanation: The waggle dance shares food locations.
Real-World Application: Use clear words or drawings to share ideas with friends.