The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees: A Scientific Mystery

Sandra Markle's Science Discoveries

by Sandra Markle

Honeybees are a crucial part of our food chain. As they gather nectar from flowers to make sweet honey, these bees also play an important role in pollination, helping some plants produce fruit. But large numbers of honeybees are disappearing every year . . . and no one knows why. Is a fungus killing them? Could a poor diet be the cause? What about changes to bees' natural habitat? In this real-life science mystery, scientists and beekeepers are working to answer these questions . . . and save the world's honeybees before it's too late.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Picture Books, Animals, Middle Grade, Environment, Childrens

48 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Sandra Markle is the author of more than two hundred children's books, which have won numerous awards, including Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book, IRA/CBC Children's Choice, NSTA/CBC Outstanding Trade Books for Children, NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended, and ALA Notable Books for Children. She lives in Lakewood Ranch, Florida and frequently travels to schools sharing her program "Sandra Markle's Books Are REAL Adventures."

Reviews

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with The Case of the Vanishing Golden Frogs (Millbrook, 2011), Markle conveys the troubling mystery confronting American beekeepers, farmers and scientists. In 2007, beekeepers in the United States first met to discuss Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). “Beekeepers everywhere were losing about 30 percent of their hives. In some places, the reported losses were as high as 50 percent.” CCD not only affects local farmers and beekeepers; it has significant implications for the larger ecosystem. Markle sets out the issues in a clear way for middle grade readers, providing insight for a slightly younger audience than Loree Griffin Burns' The Hive Detectives (Houghton Mifflin, 2010). Markle clearly explains how bees pollinate flowers, bring pollen and nectar back to the hive, and care for their young, making honey in the process. She then proceeds to discuss possible causes of CCD, asking the basic question: What is killing the honeybees? Various possibilities are considered in turn, from monoculture and urban development, to overwork and transportation of hives, and also infections from mites, fungus and viruses. Readers come away with an understanding of the way scientists consider the different possibilities. Interesting experiments are explained, providing a glimpse into the scientific process. Full-color photographs, maps, captions and headings provide good support for middle grade readers moving into more in-depth scientific reading. An author’s note, further facts, suggestions for action, and resources for further reading are included in the rich, accessible backmatter. (glossary, index, bibliography)

[Angela]

1. Twin Text: These Bees Count! by Alison Formento, 2012
2. Rationale: These Bees Count! is quite a bit more simple than The Case of the Vanishing Honey Bees and would be a good introductory text. I can imagine using this book with second graders as a read aloud to provide some background knowledge about honey bees before digging into the more involved nonfiction piece, which is quite in depth and could be used as a whole or part. The These Bees Count, the children in the story visit a "bee farm" and learn about the role of bees and how they produce honey. The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees explains the bees' role in pollination of many crops in much more depth than the first book, and then goes on to teach about colony collapse and the impact it would have on our world if bees were to die out.
3. Text Structure and strategy: Question and Answer, Problem and Solution. I would begin by reading These Bees Count!, as an introduction to honey bees and what they do. Then I would use a K-W-L or similar (I prefer a KNOW, which I will explain in my non-fiction presentation) to engage the students’ background knowledge about honey bees before reading The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees. I would also ask a preparatory question or two, such as “what would happen if we didn’t have bees?” to get the students thinking about the problem that we will read about in The Case… and why this is an important issue for our world.
4. Review: (2013, Oct. 1). Booklist. http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=a...

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells about the mystery of Colony Collapse Disorder, what some of the possible causes are, and what scientists and bee keepers are doing to try to combat it.

This is a fascinating book written at an upper elementary level. I love the fact that there is interesting nonfiction being written for upper elementary that goes beyond the standard. This book looks into a situation that is currently being studied by scientists. There is no 'this is the answer' here.

This book informs readers, while also preparing them to read longer and more detailed nonfiction in years to come. This book is a good bridge between informational picture books like Flight of the Honey Bee and nonfiction text written for older readers like The Hive Detectives: Chronicle of a Honey Bee Catastrophe.

[Raina · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 2006, Bee Farmers started noticing that their bees were dying - disappearing. What happened? This book explores the reasons at a kid level, with lots of great pictures.

Sandra Markle is one of my favorite Juvenile Nonfiction authors. I took this out to local elementary schools this month, and also took Animals Heroes True Rescue Stories a few years ago. She does a great job of writing about true things in an engaging, accessible way.

Yay. Also, good cover.

[Luann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a ton about honeybees by reading this! When bee colonies collapse, we potentially lose a lot more than just honey. "Honeybees, in particular, are needed in order to grow apples, raspberries, watermelon, almonds, and cucumbers--to name just a few." Wow! I ate an apple while I read this, and thanked the honeybees.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was enlightening, visually engaging, and thought provoking. The honeybees role in it's ecosystem is explored. Colony collapse is a complex issue, and several possible causes are presented. Pictures and diagrams are bold and show aspects of beekeeping I had not yet seen. I recommend this book to upper elementary school students or adults with only a basic understanding of beekeeping.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Sentence Review: Nonfiction mysteries are hard to concoct, but this is one of the very rare few (and just a delight to read).

[Paper Privateer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beekeepers have discovered that several of their bees have inexplicably gone missing. Without honeybees, many foods cannot get pollenated and be able to grow. In January 2007, beekeepers from across the world gathered to discuss the loss of the bees, calling the problem Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Without the essential worker bees, the hive cannot survive. Scientists have tried to find the problem with the disappearing bees, researching to see if urban development, overwork from farmers transporting bees year-round across the country for pollination, cell phones, mites, fungi, and other issues have contributed to CCD. No one knows for sure what is killing the bees, but scientists are hard at work to find answers and beekeepers do everything they can to keep the bees healthy.

The text itself is not particularly kid friendly or exciting, but kids who are interested in science or bees will enjoy the details and the bright, colorful pictures. The back of the book has some ideas to help local honeybees and resources for global efforts, making it more useful for classrooms and parents to help their child be involved in the scientific process beyond the pages of the book. The book provides a lot of detail into the biology of honeybees, the importance of pollination, and the scientific process that people go through to try to solve a problem. Although scientists have still not found a salutation, this book provides a good look of what is going on in science to protect this particular species and why it matters to everyday people.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Will the future be sweet? . . . The idea of honeybee colonies living free of the threat of collapse is only a dream" (pg. 42).
A book about a female dominant species is right up my alley. And what an insect it is.
What a great book! Perfect for upper elementary and lower middle school. First, the author explains the importance of honeybees. Apples, watermelon, cucumbers, almonds, and more are at risk here! Then the magnificence of the colony, and the roles of each bee: queen, worker, drone is explained. Finally, the author discusses the possible reasons for Colony Collapse Disorder and the declining honeybee population. Could it be mites? Pesticides? A deadly fungus? Or is it beekeepers overworking their bee population while feeding them poorly? It isn't clear from the data and is likely a combination, but each possibility is fully explored.
This children's book educated me! It is chock full of pictures and cool information: did you know the Paris Opera house has kept rooftop beehives for 20 years??
This is exactly what scientific books for the young reader should look like. It is a genuinely beautiful book and an important part of helping solve a worldwide problem. Highly recommend.

[Marlina Serratos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Age 9-16 Grade Level 3rd-8th

This is a informational text as it informs us about how Honeybees are being affected by nature, humans and other ecological factors that contribute to their decline. The author also provides us with fun facts about Honeybees. Throughout every page the authors also provides beautiful photograph illustrations.

The one thing that I see problematic about this books would be that for younger ages it my be difficult for them to understand the vocabulary. However, it would be a great book to use for a science theme, or science project/topic with any age group.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding myself recently unable to answer a grandchild's questions about why there aren't as many bees in our flowers this year, I was delighted to locate this book at our library. I found the information both dismaying and hopeful. It's created a number of activities that the grandchildren and I are considering--including ways both locally and globally that we may be able to help slow down this 'honeybee vanishing' situation.

[Suebee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely excellent.

I never realized how bees were trucked all over the United States during different growing seasons to aid in farmers’ pollination. Blueberries, almonds, apples, and more all depend on these trucked bee populations.

The author details five or six hypotheses why the bees population has decreased in recent years. (Pesticides? Fungus?)

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

[Dodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book for kids and adults. This short book deals with why the bees are disappearing, Colony Collapse Disorder, CCD. Many different theories. Very interesting.

[Roberta Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees: A Scientific Mystery by Sandra Markle is a fabulous new book about the mystery of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in honey bees.

Organized in a beautifully logical way, Markle introduces honey bees and why we should care about them. She then presents the case for different causes of the disorder, revealing how complicated it all might be.

The visual lay out of the book is extremely appealing. It adds bold interest without overwhelming the text. Some of the close-up photographs are astonishing.

I should reveal that I am an entomologist by training and have had a long term interest in honey bees. I was impressed that Markle went right to the scientific experts and was able to synthesize and distill vast amounts of information into a clear, accurate picture of our current understanding of CCD. I also like that she presented some ideas for things we can do to help, like buy local honey (very important!), and plant flowers with bees in mind. She mentions letting weeds, like dandelions, go to flower. Dandelions can be critical because they flower late in the season, supplying significant cold weather food to the bees. Letting herbs and vegetables go to flower can be helpful to pollinators, too.

The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees is a compelling story with hard science, a complicated mystery, and a very real consequences to our dinner tables, all tied up into one. It will definitely appeal to middle grade readers and up.

For more information and suggested activities, see Wrapped In Foil Blog.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees: A Scientific Mystery by Sandra Markle is a nominee for the 2015-16 South Carolina Children's Book Award.

The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees is a good book for introducing elementary and middle grade students to the topic of Colony Collapse Disorder. They may have heard that honeybees are disappearing, but, like many adults, they may not know why or what the potential impact could be. This book attempts to provide possible reasons for CCD, but it also lets readers know that even the scientific community still doesn't fully understand all of the reasons for CCD. A number of factors may be at work, but all can agree that this is a serious problem that could have catastrophic consequences.

This informative book offers a detailed look at honeybees, their life cycles, roles in the hive and larger environment, as well as what could be leading to CCD and how readers can help honeybees to thrive once again.

The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees would be a great addition to upper elementary classrooms that are studying animal behavior and/or human impact on animals and the environment.

My two cents: As I was reading this book, I found it to be rather complicated. The writing, in my opinion, may be too complex for some young readers to comprehend. It was somewhat dry, and I have my doubts that it will hold students' interest. I'm on the lookout for similar books that cover the same content in a more kid-friendly, entertaining way.

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

♥ This is a very easy to read & understand book. It is also a very important book to read if you are interested in ecology and the protection of our natural food sources.

In October of 2006, Dave Hackenberg went out to check his bees..... Millions of them. What he found was only the queens of each hive & their broods... the rest were missing. Three weeks earlier, he had driven the group of 30,000 from FL to PA and all was well.

In January 2007, beekeepers from all over the u.s. met.... many had experienced the same form of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Beekeepers were losing anywhere from 30-50% of their hives.... The biggest issue wasn't the loss of beekeeping business, but the fact that without honeybees food crops would fail and people would go hungry.

Scientists & beekeepers found that: change of habitat (wide spread urbanization & single crop land utilization [usually corn]); overworking & improper diet (cutting short the honeybees rest time and feeding them sugar syrup); pesticides (especially neonicotinoids [nicotine based]); Varroa mites; and Nosema fungus are to blame.

The book goes on to talk about care & feeding of bees; the different types of honeybees; the splitting of colonies; and a new "Hygienic" breed of bees that help fight mites & diseases.

The book also has a short section on: Global Rescue Effects; Helping Your Local Honeybees; and Honeybee Websites.

What an amazing book which I am happy I took the time to read!

[Debra Lowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winner of the 2012 Prize for Excellence in Science Books by The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Sandra Markle is well-known in the genre of non-fiction science books for elementary and middle-schoolers.

Having first been an educator, The Case of the Vanishing Bees is the result of six months of research and much more time spent arranging the book into bits of informational text combined with engaging pictures that will draw readers in immediately and keep them turning the pages. Markle touches on the topic, the declining population of honeybees worldwide (colony decline disorder (CCD)), introduces bees and the colony life of a bee, then looks at bees as an industry, and finally gives the reader six hypotheses and correctives currently being explored by the scientific community as to why the honeybee populations are declining. Following the book text are a credit to the scientists in the field, particularly Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman, some fun facts about honeybees, and a list for further readings and research. It concludes with a glossary and index.

This is a beautiful book that would make a great addition to any collection. For readability, it is appropriate for upper elementary and would compliment Loree Griffin Burns' The Hive Detectives (Smithsonian Scientists in the Field Collection)and Anne Rockwell's, Honey in a Hive.

[Shazzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a fascinating natural mystery. What's happening to the honeybees? Unfortunately, I didn't feel like The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees: A Scientific Mystery will do much to interest children in this global epidemic. The text, while very informative and illustrated by beautiful photographs, is very dry. Dry to the bone. It reads to me like the kind of very well-intentioned books that are foisted on students that bore them to death. I think if there was a little more of a human interest expressed in those pages, more detail about beekeepers whose hives are suffering, etc, it might be a more relate-able read. In general, I would direct patrons to the older, but superior The Hive Detectives: Chronicle of a Honey Bee Catastrophe for information about CCD.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Doctor: Donna, come on, think: Earth, there must have been some sort of warning. Was there anything happening back in your day, like... electrical storms, freak weather, patterns in the... sky?
Donna Noble: Well, how should I know? Um, no. I don't- I don't think so. No.
The Doctor: [disappointed] Oh, OK, nevermind.
Donna Noble: Although, there were the bees disappearing.
The Doctor: [dismissive] The bees disappearing.
The Doctor: [sarcastic] The *bees* disappearing.
The Doctor: [revelational] The bees disappearing!

Of course the bees are disappearing, any fan of Dr. Who knows that. In fact it is true that honeybees at least have been disappearing. Colonies have collapsed and scientists have been trying to work out why. They have explored changing habitats, overwork, diet, mites, fungus, pesticides, and cell phones. Luckily cell phones have been cleared, but the others have all been found to contribute to colony declines. I didn't realize how important bees were to our way of life. They are the main pollinators for not just flowers but many of the foods we rely on. This book is a wake up call to the role bees play in our lives and what we should do to protect them.

[Kaelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to write a research paper for English class on a topic with two sides. I decided to do my paper on honeybees, more specifically Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) simply because I felt that not enough people care about this issue. CCD is a disorder when entire bee colonies die off for no apparent reason (though this book explores many of the things that MIGHT cause it).

My strong feelings for this topic aside, this book is going to be a valuable resource. It's very short and obviously written for someone who is much younger than I am, but it explains the basis of CCD easily and explains why it's such a problem. It also gives a background on how colonies work and how many different things can influence this issue. Because it's written for kids, it's really concise and to the point, which is what I needed. It also gives some pretty astonishing facts I didn't know about this crisis.

Recommend to those who want to know more about Colony Collapse Disorder and/or just want to learn about bees in general. Or those who are researching a possible topic for their papers. (hint hint wink wink).

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy Sandra Markle's style, so I anticipated liking this book and I was not disappointed. Treating the topic as a mystery and presenting the theories and evidence from different experts creates an interesting narrative. It also chunks the information into logical sections that are easy to deal with individually, while still maintaining the flow of the book. As in her other books, the photographs are clear and well-captioned. The way the photos alternate with the pages of text gives readers a chance to digest the facts while they study the image, before they move on to the next possible cause of the vanishing bees.

Teachers will appreciate the well-researched and presented topic. Students will benefit from the glossary, and other back matter. There are lists of organizations to contact, as well as additional books and websites to check for more information on beekeeping. The table of contents and index facilitate the book's use for school assignments and reports.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

[Elissa Schaeffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not only is this a timely book, it's a fascinating one. I've read books before about bees, I've read articles before on Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) but nothing has put them in perspective and with enough frame of reference as this one has.

We get some information on honeybees, how they live, reproduce, and, most importantly to the human population, pollinate. We learn about CCD, starting in 2007 when it first was realized to be a possible epidemic. We then learn about what beekeepers and scientists are doing to save the honeybees.

The most startling information to me was the idea of traveling honeybees. I had no idea this even happened, but to look at the map on page 19 you get a sense of how much we depend on honeybees and how much work we expect of them. We still don't know the answer to CCD, we also don't know if there's only one answer as there appears to be multiple possible causes. This book conveys the urgency without becoming preachy.

Very interesting, very timely, very well made, and very recommended, ages 8+.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book for older grade-school readers or even adults who would like to learn about honeybees and colony collapse disorder. Sandra Markle has done a great job taking the reader through the basics of the honeybee hive including the types of bees and the jobs they do and how bees help us. There are wonderful pictures to help guide you along the way. The potential hypotheses for what might be causing the collapse of honeybees are explained along with what solutions are currently being worked on.

A great science read for kids and adults alike!


The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees was received as an Advanced Reading Copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sandra Markle did a wonderful job writing this current science mystery. She begins the book describing the role of the different bees in the hive. This background information really helped when she started describing different theories as to why the honeybee population is diminishing. I like how she talked to both scientists and beekeepers to get many different perspectives. It was interesting to read the different theories and to learn the experts believe the cause is more than one thing. Sandra Markle also discussed some things that are being done to help save the bees and things that could be done at home to help their plight.

[Arminzerella · Rating 4 out of 5]

The eye-catching cover with a single honeybee in flight is sure to attract readers to Sandra Markle’s investigation into the causes of CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder). While beekeepers and scientists have not been able to identify a single reason for the sudden disappearance of huge numbers of bees, they have found multiple contributing factors (mites, Nosema, pesticides, diet, etc.) that could be responsible. Markle clearly and succinctly explains bees’ importance in the natural world and to humans (specifically in food production). Young bee scientists will be intrigued. Many full-color, detailed photographs illustrate this work, and add interest.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fascinating read is very well formatted. The problem is clearly laid out as well as why readers should care. Then, readers make their way through research and hypotheses scientists developed to help understand and explain the problem and work towards a solution.

Numerous diagrams and photos are included and back matter includes an author's note, facts about honeybees, suggestions for ways readers can help honeybees, global rescue efforts, a glossary, and a further reading list and great websites to explore. Recommended for grades 5-8.

[Kelsey Frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

The colony collapse of bees is stumping both scientists and beekeepers. Bees are disappearing at an alarming rate and the consequences of a depleted bee population is more than just loss of honey, it is loss of crops because of inability to pollinate plants. Scientists are researching the top causes of bee loss and trying to figure out the root of the problem. This non-fiction book about bees and threats to the bee population is a great research book to support early to middle grade readers. Pictures and graphics help support this well written book.

[Mrs. Trimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful photo-essay book. All of the pages are honey-colored and there are vibrant photos on nearly every page to help complement the text. Fun facts are included at the end along with ideas for how the reader can help honeybee colonies. And of course, related books and websites are also included if the reader wants to do more independent research. The book was very interesting and easy to read. I will definitely buy for my school library.

[Jean-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Released October 2013, this is an up-to-date picture book about Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). This book does an excellent job informing readers about the role of the honeybee colony, addressing the top theories behind colony collapse (frequent habitat changes, mobile phone usage, varroa mites, a deadly fungus and pesticides) and explaining some of the things scientists and researchers are doing to stop CCD. The book also lists websites and books for additional information on the topic.