Honeybees Unit Study

The Life and Times of the Honeybee
by Charles Micucci
Age Range: 1st - 5th
Why do beekeepers use smoke machines when collecting honey? Can a bee really sting only once? Why do bees "dance"? In concise, detailed text and abundant illustrations that range from the humorous to the scientific, Charles Micucci offers a wide-ranging and spirited introduction to the life cycle, social organization, and history of one of the world's most useful insects.

The Honey Makers
by Gail Gibbons
Age Range: K5 - 4th
How sweet it is. Thousands of bees visited more than one million flowers to gather the nectar that went into that one-pound jar of honey. Here's the buzz on how these remarkable insects work together to create this amazing food.

Honey in a Hive
by Anne Rockwell
Age Range: K5 - 3rd
In spring and summer, honeybees gather nectar to make into honey. These fascinating insects live and work together in complicated societies, complete with queen bees and workers. Read and find out about honeybees and their creation -- honey!

The Life Cycle of a Honeybee
by Bobbie Kalman
Age Range: 1st and up
Describes the physical characteristics, behavior, life cycle, and natural environment of honeybees.

Flight of the Honey Bee
by Raymond Huber
Age Range: K5 - 3rd
A tiny honey bee emerges from the hive for the first time. Using sunlight, landmarks, and scents to remember the path, she goes in search of pollen and nectar to share with the thousands of other bees in her hive. She uses her powerful sense of smell to locate the flowers that sustain her, avoids birds that might eat her, and returns home to share her finds with her many sisters. Nature lovers and scientists-to-be are invited to explore the fascinating life of a honey bee.

Are You a Bee?
by Judy Allen
Age Range: K5 - 3rd
This delightful little book shows that--from the perspective of a honeybee--the backyard is a busy place. A young bee faces many challenges as it takes its place in the hive and joins in the work of the bee community.

The Honeybee Mystery (The Boxcar Children)
by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Age Range: 1st - 5th
The Alden family makes an annual trip to the Sherman farm to stock up on delicious fresh honey only to discover that there is a honey shortage! The Aldens help the Shermans look for clues around the farm to see what's wrong with the bees.

The Bees in Your Backyard: A Guide to North America's Bees
by Joseph S. Wilson
Age Range: all ages
The book features more than 900 stunning color photos of the bees living all around us―in our gardens and parks, along nature trails, and in the wild spaces between. It describes their natural history, including where they live, how they gather food, their role as pollinators, and even how to attract them to your own backyard.

The First Book of Bees 
by Albert B. Tibbets
Age Range: K5 - 5th
This public domain book is a beautifully illustrated introduction to bees. This is a favorite in our home.