The Bee Without Wings (w/Spring activity)

When I picked out, The Bee Without Wings, to bring home from the library, I was not prepared for the depth that this picture book would have and the beautiful way that it teaches children about life and death in nature. My children insisted that this book is not too sad (I asked them multiple times to make sure), and I think that that is because the focus is on the bee's life and how we can respond to nature in a kind and life-giving way.

The story follows a young girl named, Sasha, and her cat, Molly, as they discover a bee without wings. The pair nurse the bee back to health and gave her the name, Bea. This leads into the three of them enjoying a wonderful summer together, with Sasha and Molly even managing to get Bea up in the air in flight. They grow close, but as we all know, wings or not, bees do not have long life spans, so Bea's passing is imminent. The time does come when Bea slows down and eventually dies, and although Sasha and Molly miss her, that sadness only lasts a season (winter, really), until it springs up like a seed, bearing beautiful fruit in the spring in the form of a yard and garden catering to the new season's bees. Sasha's heart had been touched by Bea, and because she didn't dwell in that sad season for too long, she could in turn help many more bees in remembrance of her friend now gone. This is a sweet and subtle lesson that can help and encourage children in many different situations, all because Sasha's heart towards this bee without wings.

One my my favourite parts of the book is actually the pages after the story. In a two page spread, the author takes time to teach the reader how they can care for early spring bees, and how to create their very own bee garden. The instructions are not only manageable, but inspiring...and we were inspired!

Living in a condo limits our garden space immensely, but we definitely have room for a couple of pots. This pair of yellow pots just made me happy, and they reminded me of bees, so home they came. We also visited a local nursery where we were guided to the perennials that have signs to show which ones are preferred by hummingbirds or other pollinators. As we have tiny green hummingbirds that frequent the forest behind our house, our Bee Garden turned into more of a Pollinator Garden, and we love it! The hummingbirds will enjoy both of our perennial choices, and we will be planting wildflower seeds to grow bee-specific favourites. We even added a flower-shaped tray with water and will be placing the kiddos's coloured bees into the pots to add a welcoming and whimsical touch. Does your heart and home have room for a few bee-friendly pots of your own?

The Bee Without Wings by Amberlea Williams

Published in 2023