Am I Even a Bee?

Description

Am I Even a Bee? is the story of Osmia, a solitary bee, decidedly green and unquestionably un-fuzzy. Osmia has always believed she is a bee, (her mom told her so), but recent run-ins with people, and even other insects, leave her wondering, "Am I even a bee?!" Confused, Osmia faces an identity crisis, and she turns to her meadow for comfort. It is here that she meets her new friend and guide Xyla, a carpenter bee who, like Osmia, does not fit the black-and-yellow social mold. Through some adventures and chance encounters, Osmia and Xyla meet a slew of non-honey bees, each special and important to the meadow in their own unique way. Osmia discovers that while fame is great, diversity and acceptance are essential to a happy ecosystem. As it turns out, there is no one way to be a bee!

Dr. Felicity Muth is an assistant professor of animal behavior and cognition at the University of Texas at Austin. Originally from London, Felicity did her Ph.D. at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, before discovering her passion for bees at the University of Arizona and University of Nevada, Reno, where she held postdoctoral research positions. Felicity is also an award-winning popular science writer, and has published in Scientific American as well as being interviewed on NPR's Science Friday. She currently resides in Austin, Texas. Alexa Lindauer works as the Project and Laboratory Manager at the Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory through the University of California, Santa Barbara. She studies disease in amphibians and currently works to restore populations of endangered frogs in California. She holds an M.S. in Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a B.A. in Biology from Bowdoin College with a minor in Visual Arts. Alexa spends her free time exploring her Sierra Nevada backyard as a backcountry skier and trail runner. Her love of the outdoors and wild places motivates much of her scientific research which focuses around conservation. She uses art as a tool to connect people to science and the natural world. She currently resides in Mammoth Lakes, California.

"Muth presents ideas to children in an appealing, sometimes amusing way. While a few of Lindauer's colorful, double-page pictures include fanciful elements related to the story, the bees and flowers are illustrated with accuracy as well as vitality and grace." - Booklist, Starred Review by Carolyn Phelan, March 2022 "It's lovely to read a charming and fun book to my grandchildren that informs them about Nature and is a step towards making them good stewards of our planet Earth." - Isabella Rossellini, farmer/filmmaker "Am I Even a Bee? is the endearing tale of a confused little bee, a celebration of the wonderful diversity of life, and, perhaps, a parable for human society." - Professor Dave Goulson, Silent Earth "Am I Even a Bee? is a playful and vibrant introduction to the diverse array of colors, shapes, sizes, and habits of the native bee world. I loved it!" - Jessica Rykken, Entomologist, Denali National Park "A gentle, empathetic story about belonging while bee-ing different, adorably illustrated by Alexa Lindauer, that will leave young readers in love with the natural diversity of real bees." - Professor Alex Wild, world-renowned insect photographer, Curator of Entomology at The University of Texas at Austin