Flight of the Honey Bee by Raymond Huber

As a result, I think these points may be lost on the reader. In addition, the author’s info includes a note about how he wanted to write this book when he “realized how humans and bees are partners.” The main text does not explain pollination (adequately), colony collapse disorder, or the partnership between humans and bees. But then at the end of the text, there is a “save the bees” note focused on the critical role bee pollination plays in the world with tips for helping bees. Perhaps this is why these notes were on the first page of the text – even before the title page. The only mention of pollen is the pollen that sticks to her body when she visits a flower and she spreads the pollen as she “zigs and zags from flower to flower,” but there is no explanation of why this is vital. The book is simply about Scout’s journey to find nectar and return to the hive.

As I read this – I developed an expectation about what this book would be about, BUT that’s not at all what this book is about. On the very first page of the text – just inside the book cover and before the title page, there is a note about how the honey bee “may be one of the most important (creatures) for life on earth” and then another about “a honey bee can’t live alone” – it’s part of a family and has many jobs in its lifetime. There is one aspect of this book that bothered me. He has clearly used research to create this narrative – and this could make for an important discussion with students who are “applying” the research they have done to a creative, but still informational piece of writing. Huber’s text could also be a mentor for intermediate grade students. Primary grade students would enjoy listening to Scout’s adventure. The captions for the illustrations are non-narrative stating related facts about the honey bees. Huber doesn’t attribute feelings or thoughts to Scout in a human-like way, but instead has clearly used research to describe Scout’s actions as she searches for nectar, seeks refuge from a hail storm, and communicates to her sister bees through dance-like movements. I’m always a little leery of informational texts that humanize or anthropomorphize animals or non-human animals/things, but Huber’s narrative of a honey bee named Scout out hunting for nectar is conservative on this aspect. Review of Flight of the Honey Bee by Huber (2013).

Flight of the Honey Bee by Raymond Huber