If Bees Disappeared

by Lily Williams, Lily Williams (Illustrator)

Overview

What would happen if bees disappeared? Find out in this fourth book from Lily Williams in the award-winning If Animals Disappeared Series that imagines the consequences of a world without bees.

The rolling hills and lush climate of Kent, England are home to many creatures.

These creatures are fluffy, sneaky, spikey, and ... small, like the bee.

Though bees are small, their importance is BIG. Today there are over 250,000 species of bees but all of them are in danger. Because of disease, pesticide exposure, lack of foraging habitats, and poor nutrition, entire honey bee hives are dying.

What would happen if bees disappeared completely?

Artist Lily Williams explores how such a loss would effect not just bees' environment, but the world as a whole in this poignant, beautiful book about the importance of our most important bees.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250232458
Publisher:	Roaring Brook Press
Publication date:	03/16/2021
Series:	If Animals Disappeared , #1
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	139,801
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD1000L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Lily Williams is the author and illustrator of If Sharks Disappeared, If Polar Bears Disappeared, and If Elephants Disappeared. She grew up in Northern California where she received her BFA from California College of the Arts before moving to Denver, Colorado. Lily seeks to inspire change, engage audiences, and educate people of all ages with her artwork.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for the If Bees Disappeared:


*"A rich, well-designed offering with multiple uses for teachers and students. A standout among the many books about honeybees."—School Library Journal, starred review


"Sweet as honey."—Kirkus Reviews


"Bee books abound, but...collections should consider adding this one, too."—Booklist


"Friendly illustrations help to deliver Williams's urgent message effectively...[as she] envisions the devastating impact of a mass bee extinction."—Horn Book


Praise for the If Animals Disappeared series:


*"A successful balancing act between heralding disaster and promoting change—an informative debut."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review


*"While the future is impossible to predict, Williams presents a scientifically grounded view of a world without sharks that should spark discussion and inspire action in budding ecologists. A terrific addition to any school or public library."—School Library Journal, starred review


"A well-executed environmental primer that will leave readers considering the interconnectivity of the planet and its inhabitants."—Publishers Weekly


"A solid addition to the climate-change canon for those interested in saving a fragile world."—Kirkus

“Bright, appealing illustrations and an ultimately empowering message provide a much-needed hopeful side to a complex topic.” —School Library Journal

A rich, well-designed offering with multiple uses for teachers and students. A standout among the many books about honeybees.–Myra Zarnowski, City Univ. of New York

From the Publisher

★ 01/01/2021

Gr 1–4—This book describes the crucial role honeybees play in our lives and how we can help them survive and remain healthy. The narrative starts in Kent, a county in the United Kingdom that is known as the "Garden of England." The lush illustrations are packed with information about the kinds of bees, the inside of a hive, the process of pollination, and the foods that depend on honeybee pollination. The clear writing is engaging. Many essential vocabulary words and phrases are introduced, such as keystone species, pollinators, superorganism, and Colony Collapse Disorder. Each of these terms is clearly explained. At the beginning of the book, readers learn how honeybees impact life on earth, and then discover the threats to their survival and the ways humans can aid their survival. According to the text, if honeybees disappeared, most of the plants that bees pollinate would also disappear. Additionally, our favorite foods would become rarer, birds might disappear, and there would be a limited variety of crops. This unraveling effect is called a trophic cascade. But all is not lost. The extensive back matter includes a substantial list of ways to save the bees, a glossary, a bibliography, and additional sources. The result is a compelling look at the plight of the honeybee. The illustrations feature a girl with light skin and dark hair and a girl with brown skin and textured hair. VERDICT A rich, well-designed offering with multiple uses for teachers and students. A standout among the many books about honeybees.—Myra Zarnowski, City Univ. of New York

School Library Journal

2020-12-25
Learn about the importance of keystone species in this buzzworthy book.

Honeybees are an important species—but how many people know just how important? Readers will after reading this bee-dazzling book that explains their essential role in the food chain. Three beekeepers (a White adult and two children, one Black and one White) are inspecting their beehives and discover a potential case of colony collapse disorder, a relatively new phenomenon in which an entire colony of bees dies off quickly. The book then delves into the logical events that would follow if all honeybee colonies collapsed, showing how many species—plant and animal, including humans—would be adversely affected. Each double-page spread presents one or two small paragraphs explaining the links in the chain of consequences in moderately simple language. The text is supported by lush cartoon illustrations that will pull in readers with each new page. The book ends with a brief glossary, suggestions for starting honeybee-related conversations at home and with friends, and a full-page bibliography for readers who have been stung with curiosity. It’s a fun and engaging read for nonfiction fans and will also pull double duty during science project festivals, as the resources and information will be invaluable for projects on ecology, animal husbandry, or food webs. An added bonus for beekeepers is that all three humans are observing sensible beekeeping practices as they work. (This book was reviewed digitally with 8.5-by-22-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)

Sweet as honey. (Informational picture book. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews