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Turn This Book Into a Beehive!: And 19 Other Experiments and Activities That Explore the Amazing World of Bees. Wow; what a mouthful of a book title! Lynn Brunelle is an Emmy Award-winning writer for Bill Nye the Science Guy, as well as an author of over 45 books. With her latest book, she provides an easy-to-follow education on the world of bees and their important role in the world.

For some mysterious reason, bees are on the decline around the world. Nobody can pinpoint the exact cause, but many agree that it is most probably a combination of disease, parasites, pesticides, and climate change. The worst part is that without bees, our crops and gardens will fail. So, as bees disappear, so do our food supplies, and that’s not good. That’s not good at all! But, with Lynn Brunelle’s book, you can help by literally turning it into a beehive. No foolin’!

The book’s slip cover is removable and comes pre-installed with holes and metal grommets. Combine this with the included back plate & a piece of string, and you have the outer shell of a beehive! Half of the book is dedicated to colorful tear-out sheets that can be rolled up to create the nesting areas within the beehive. The end result looks like a giant drop of honey stuffed with paper tubes, much like the one on the book’s front cover. I should note that this is a beehive designed for mason bees, which can be found all over North America, they can pollinate 100 times more than honey bees, and they don’t sting. If you would rather not disassemble the book, there are a few other alternative ideas that you can construct. But, they require you to gather your own resources.

Personally, I’ve rarely seen a mason bee; honey bees are far more common in my area. Plus, they need shelter from the elements, which I can’t provide at the moment. So, I will not be building the beehive. But, I will pass the book on to someone who will be more equipped to care for the fuzzy little critters. I certainly don’t want to be responsible for the destruction of a group of bees.

The experiments within the book are simple, and provide clearer a understanding of bees and their world. Discover the healing powers of honey, make your own pesticide-free garden sprays, learn how pollen is spread, and more. They’re quick, they’re fun, they’re creative, and they’re educational. I know I used the dreaded ‘E’ word. But, the book really is fascinating, and the illustrations by Anna-Maria Jung make you forget that you’re learning. Even the nesting tubes for the beehive have little room scenes . . . not that they could ever be seen once they’re rolled up, but they’re a fun touch. I guess a child would argue that the bees would see them.

I think it’s great to get kids up and interacting with the outside world even if it’s only as far as the garden. It’s a foot in the door. From there, the door can be pried open little-by-little.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Workman Publishing, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links—as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying products.