Review: Honeybee Rescue by Loree Griffin Burns

 Today's read caught my attention for a couple of reasons. One: it's a nonfiction read, and I love learning all sorts of new things. Two: honeybees are always interesting. Three: my husband and brother have both had hives over the years (sometimes more successfully than others). Since this one also takes an unique twist and dives into the job of a honeybee rescuer, I decided to give it a go. And I'm glad I did!

Ready to buzz around?

HONEYBEE RESCUE

A Backyard Drama

by Loree Griffin Burns

Photographs by Ellen Harasimowicz

Charlesbridge Publishing

Picture Book / Nonfiction

40 pages

ages 5 to 8

COMING...  MAY 10th!!!

Fans of the Scientists in the Field series will love discovering ways to save and protect bees through the eyes of a honeybee rescuer.

Follow honeybee rescuer Mr. Nelson as he expertly removes a colony of bees from Mr. Connery's barn (with a vacuum!) and helps it relocate back to a hive. Photographs of Mr.Nelson's relocation of the colony help bring the honeybee rescue to life.

Nature lovers and scientists-to-be will be abuzz as they learn all the ways to keep honeybees (and our ecosystem) safe. 

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MY TIDBITS

Real-life photographs add just the right touch to make this a interesting and valuable look into how honeybees can be moved to safety.

While many honeybee picture books focus on pollen collecting, how bees live, and honey production, these pages explain what a bee rescuer does. The honeybee farm of Mr. Connery starts the scene, first showing how honeybees usually are kept before switching to the hive they've built on their own in the corner of a rickety garage. Knowing the bees won't survive the winter in that spot, the honeybee rescuer comes in. Readers follow him, step-by-step, as he moves the hive into a safer spot.

There are several things I enjoyed about this one. First, the entire thing holds actually photographs of a honey farmer, his farm and the honeybee rescuer. The tale comes from real life and readers follow this right along, getting a true view into how everything is done. While illustrations are nice, these photographs add the needed touch of reality. 

Second, the writing is very well done. Even though this is a nonfiction read, which explains exactly how the bees are moved and why, it reads like a mini-adventure. Not over the top, but definitely not an informational gush, which can bore. It gives the reader the impression that they are standing right there and learning while watching. The vocabulary is at the right age level and this is one for readers who have a good grip on words or as a read-aloud with more text.

 Lastly, there are helpful and interesting additions at the end, which give an even deeper look into a honeybee rescuer's job and several other bits of information. It wraps up the book nicely and makes this a great addition to a classroom theme, homeschoolers, or simply those who are interested in learning more about honeybees.