The Buzz on Wild Bees

An engaging introduction to the wide world of wild bees

Say the word “bee,” and most kids think of honeybees or bumblebees. But there are around 20,000 discovered species of bees—and most of these are wild, solitary bees that don’t live in hives. Readers will discover fascinating facts about these lesser-known bee species, from mason bees and mining bees to leafcutter bees and vulture bees.

Using clear, concise language and plenty of fun word play, this introduction to wild bees describes their life cycles, habitats, and behaviors … some of which are weirder than others! It also explains the importance of wild solitary bees to many ecosystems, the challenges these bees face, and the things we can do to be part of the solution.

Vibrant, detailed illustrations created with pencil, crayon, and watercolor provide close-up views that are buzzing with life. Full of fun facts, The Buzz on Wild Bees invites readers to celebrate and protect all the world’s bees.

Kira received her first (friendly) rejection letter from a kids' magazine when she was 11, but that didn’t stop her from wanting to be a writer. Today, she’s a busy author and journalist for adults, teens and kids with over 1,500 articles and four books published, including the 2015 Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction winning Why We Live Where We Live, and Red Maple nominated The Secret Life of Money: A kid’s guide to cash and Growing Up, Inside and Out, plus a money book for grownups that some readers say changed their lives. So, that’s cool.

When she’s not writing, she’s whistling while she works, singing with the windows wide open and cooking tasty stuff. Oh. And drinking coffee. She likes to do that too. Kira lives in Guelph, Ontario with her husband, a couple of fabulous kids, a dog named Marbles – and a seriously old guinea pig.

June Steube has created illustrations for books, magazines, informational posters, museum exhibits, coins, and film. Her clients include The Caterpillar Magazine, Canada Post, the Canadian Museum of Nature, and the Royal Canadian Mint. She is also the illustrator of the award-winning Dig, Dance, Dive. June lives with her husband on Pigeon Lake, in the Kawartha region of Ontario.