A Pathway for Pollinators

by Michelle Schaub, Blanca Gómez (Illustrator)

This bright, read-aloud companion to A Place for Rain inspires readers to build city gardens that connect and support pollinators.


Flitter. Flutter. Buzz. Hum. Come watch a meadow thrum.


But what happens when a meadow meets a metropolis? There’s not much pollen to be found with steel buildings, concrete roads, and primly trimmed lawns. So this classroom plans and builds urban gardens to create an inviting pathway for pollinators to visit.


With lively, lyrical language and beguiling illustrations, A Pathway for Pollinators provides an upbeat and actionable approach to an important environmental issue, empowering readers with the tools to create a habitat for wildlife, grow healthy plants, and support local ecosystems.

Genres: Nature, Picture Books, Childrens, Science, Environment

39 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 5, 2026

About the author

Michelle Schaub is an award-winning children’s author, poet, and teacher. Her most recent books are Pumpkin Smash, A Pathway for Pollinators , and Meadows of the Sea: The Wonders of Seagrass. Michelle’s books have received numerous awards and honors, including The American Horticultural Society’s Growing Green Kids Award, the National Council of Teacher’s of English Poetry Notable Honor, Blueberry Changemaker Honor, Indiana Library Association Best Read Aloud, Bank Street Best Children’s Books, California Reading Association' Eurkeka! Gold Award, Illinois Reads Selection, and Northern Lights Book Award. Her poems appear in several anthologies, including Schoolapalooza and A World Full of Poems. Follow Michelle on X or IG @Schaubwrites.

Reviews

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that invites our youngest readers to take part in this effort is A Pathway for Pollinators. This is the kind of picture book that inspires readers to become part of a movement.

A pollinator pathway is exactly as it sounds. It’s a series of pollinator-friendly plants providing food and habitat to traveling bees, butterflies, and other important visitors. Michelle Schaub, whose work I’ve always loved for its poetic text and real-world connections, begins this story with a girl waiting for the bus in a vibrant, thrumming meadow.

When the bus enters the city, the landscape changes. The flowers disappear as they’re replaced by concrete, tidy lawns, and straight lines.

But with the help of her teacher, the young girl and her companions imagine what the city could be. Together, they plant flowers throughout their community, creating small but important pit stops for pollinators. As blossoms appear, so do bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, transforming not only the landscape but the life within the neighborhood.

Written in lyrical prose, this book seamlessly blends storytelling with practical tips on beginning their own pollinator pathway with a reminder that it doesn’t need to be a sprawling meadow or expansive yard to make a difference. A single garden bed, a container on a porch, or a corner of a schoolyard can become part of a much larger pathway as long as they’re thoughtfully placed.

The back matter extends the story even further with information on the importance of pollinator pathways, the role pollinators play in our ecosystems, and practical ways families, classrooms, and communities can join the movement.

Educators, you’ll discover numerous themes to play with for your classrooms, including ecology, stewardship and conservation, community, SEL, and potential STEAM connections. Highly recommend for home and classroom libraries!

[Cedar Pruitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A meadow beckons, bright and cheerful, packed with pollinators. But what happens when we readers arrive in a city? The concrete feels forbidding, at first, for fliers looking to land both day and night, but a determined young class, aided by their teacher, figures out how to create a pollinator pathway for them. Within just a few of Schaub's clean and inviting lines, even the youngest reader gets excited about the opportunities to help create pitstops between meadows. Poetry weaves a journey for these fliers, one we are all on together, and Bianca Gomez's illustrations keep it simple, clear and fun. The accessible backmatter taught me some things, like the importance of adding shrubs and trees to my pollinator-friendly front yard. An excellent illumination of our connection to pollinators and the ways we can help them.

[Jilanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a marvelous introduction that shows how human development has squeezed out pollinators and how to take action to help them return. By finding "nooks and crannies" and planting preferred native species that pollinators need in corridors and parks, a city can transform its pollinator desert into a pollinator oasis. I love how this book offers up so many ways to help! Told in a rhythmic cadence, it should work well as a read aloud, and can be used to inspire kids to green their schoolyard and make their own backyards and window boxes into pollinator paradises. I love the vibrant colors of the illustrations and how the end papers show a variety of different pollinators. It makes it easy to understand why so many different kinds of plants are needed to support them all. And I really appreciate that the author includes nighttime pollinators, too, species that many people don't often think about. Great book!

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A read-aloud introduction to pollinators, their purpose, and habitat. Beautiful and bright illustrations fill every page. It's focus is not just on pollinators, but the roles humans play in their success (or potential failure) and that for pollinators to be able to do their jobs, we humans need to help them with pollinator pathways.

If this were a book I would be reading aloud to a class or group, I think a larger font would be beneficial without taking anything from the gorgeous illustrations. Also, I felt the majority of the information that described the need for and purposes of pollinators, who are the pollinators, and plant matchups were all covered in the last two pages which were full paragraphs. Perhaps it would have been better to include more of these in the actual text, not two pages of print at the end.

[Mary Helen Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

In A PATHWAY FOR POLLINATORS, Michelle Schaub’s lively, poetic text and Blanca Gomez’s saturated illustrations will engage the eyes and ears of every young reader. Guided by an adult, a group of children learn about the significance of pollinators, about how human causes threaten their ability to thrive, and how everyone can help by creating “pitstops” where pollinators can eat and rest.. Back matter explains more about why we need pollinators, the meaning of a pollinator pathway, and the importance of “matching” the correct blooms to native pollinators when planting “pitstops” for them. A wonderful introduction to the importance of pollinators that offers simple ways that children and their adults can take action to help protect them. For families and classrooms who want to encourage young naturalists!

[Martha Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of A Place for Rain where a preschool class sets the city to rights with rain barrels and rain gardens for the overflow. I was so glad to see a follow up, but at first, I was concerned since there are so many books about pollinators for kids, but this is different. Schaub is sharing an important strategy that many adults don't know about, the need for native flower/flowering plant pitstops every 150 meters for native bees and butterflies and other creatures to use. This is a simple simple explanation perfect for younger kids of Doug Tallamy's philosophy behind Home Grown National Park. I love Blanca Gomez' are here to0 -- it also works hard to convince adults and kids how doable some of these critical solutions can be. Brava!

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a happy, fun book this was to read. The words and images were in perfect concert together. As I read, I felt like I was strolling through the very town depicted in the book, watching the children plant their flowers and brighten the world around them. Such a hopeful book! It explained the world around me but also put a smile on my face. My 13-year-old daughter read it as well, and even though I initially thought she'd deem it "too young" for her... she smiled during the entire read, taking her time to soak in each word, examine each page. I even saw her turning back to prior pages, to read them again and to look closer at the wonderful art. Colorful and full of a lively energy, this book was a pure joy to read.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It can safely be said that any child (or adult!) who loves butterflies will love this book. BUT this books isn’t only about butterflies. It’s about pollinators—and how we can find ways to help them—and it couldn’t have been done more beautifully! Schaub’s poetic text is a joy to read-aloud and Gómez’s art is a delight for the eyes (the shapes! the colors! the pollinators! those children!). The actionable information shared will prompt and empower readers to get outside and make a difference for pollinators in their own worlds. A perfect story time read-aloud and a wonderful jump-start for teachers, librarians, and parents to help kids create pollinator habitats.

[Christine Zandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is told in lively lyrics lines with some rhymes. I like the idea of how we can all help to provide habibats, no matter how big or small our spaces are. It really amplifies how every little bit helps and how we are all interconnected. The vibrant art shows how insects habitats become fragmented as we build around them. Yet, the children all pitch in and help with what seems to be a simple solution: provide native plants and do not use chemicals in the garden. This book would be an ideal gift for elementary schools to encourage school or community gardens. Overall, an uplifting and lovely read-aloud.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picture book nonfiction. I appreciate the message of this book, and I do like Blanca Gomez's colorful and diverse illustrations. It just doesn't strike me as a book that kids would enjoy. Which is unfortunate because there is so much potential when discussing plants, bugs, and community. This book does tie into the idea of a homegrown national park (Doug Tallamy) to provide a corridor of plants to feed the pollinators, but I was disappointed not to see him credited anywhere. I don't know what it was, but something about the text just fell flat. I prefer other picture books on this subject.

[Jenna Daucunas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a lovely book about pollinators (of which there are many more than just bees!!!) I love the message that “yes, we can take action!” to help these pollinators even if we live in cities and have greatly diminished their habitat. When my daughter and I finished this book we both wanted to hop up and go plant some flowers! The backmatter at the end is perfect for anyone wanting to dig in and understand the issue and what to do. This book would be a fantastic classroom read in springtime or present for any nature-loving family for Earth Day!

[Ann Staats · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told in sparse, beautifully written lyrical text, this is a story of action. It shares how pollinators thrive in open spaces. But when cities take over, pollinators are shut out. Now young readers find a way to incorporate places for these critical pollinators in the ‘steel and stone’ of cities. By creating patches of native plants, they create a path for the pollinators to follow and allow them to thrive even when meadows are overrun by buildings and roads. The wonderfully executed text and illustrations of this book send a powerful message of hope and cooperation with nature.

[Marianne Blackstone Tabner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told with beautiful, bright illustrations paired with Schaub’s sparse poetic, read aloud text, A Pathway For Pollinators is a perfect introduction for young readers to learn about pollinators and their habitats in the city. From window boxes to small plots, a preschool class acts with their teacher by planting a path of native flowers to provide much needed food for so many pollinators and to help preserve our planet. Backmatter includes additional STEM ideas of how to plant your own ‘pit stops’ for these important pollinators.

[Katie Furze · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delightful picture book is joyful to look at and has lovely rhyming text that is fun to read out loud. It also holds important information – it explains how with ever growing cities and urban sprawl pollinators need our help and goes on to show readers how to provide a series of pit stops between wild places so pollinators can survive and thrive. Excellent backmatter gives further information on why pollinators are important and other considerations when you’re planning a pathway. Highly recommended.

[Curtis Manley · Rating 5 out of 5]

In rhyming verse and bright, colorful illustrations we see a school working together to bring flowers to the many places in a city where they can grow only with some help. Linking the rural fields and farms with new areas of flowers in the city gives pollinators—even those who feed at night—pathways that offer what they need. The diverse, young schoolchildren are as eager to take on the task as they were in Schaub and Gómez’s earlier companion book, “A Place for Rain.” By the end, the reader can share their enthusiasm as the newly planted spaces “sing / with flowers / and wings.”

[Joanne Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this vital and excellent picture book, young readers learn about the need for blooms to feed pollinators and the important role they play in the food chain. This is more than a "save the bees" book, it suggests actionable solutions in age-appropriate language. Incredibly informative in easily digestible rhyme. Terrifically engaging through a blend of information, rhythm, energy, playful art and color. Backmatter with suggestions on how to find more information and tips for successful pollinator pathways.

[Beth Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This interesting approach to learning about pollinators invites kids to be part of a solution and bring nature to cities. Bold bright art accompanies rich STEM text to engage readers and provide a chance to see their world a little differently. This book is good for pollinators AND people! If you’re like me, when you finish the back matter, you’ll be inspired to get your hands dirty and do some planting!

[Lynn Street · Rating 5 out of 5]

Make a pollinator buffet! Gorgeous illustrations and energetic rhyming text make this a great read aloud for curious kids. The story is covers meadows and also urban places and how kids can help create pit stops for pollinators. It takes teamwork and some clever planning to find places for native plants. There is a role for everyone! Additional information in the back matter covers pollinators—why we need them and why they need us. Also, how to match plants to pollinators!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book blooms! With cheerful, glowing illustrations, the upbeat text romps along with a casual rhyme and a kid-friendly tone. I love how the activity of planting for pollinators fits the urban setting. What a great message! Pitch-perfect tone with a positive message - great for families and classrooms alike. And libraries!

[Vicky Fang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming and actionable book for young readers about creating paths for pollinators. With adorable art, little ones will learn about the importance of pollinators and how we can help them. This book is a great one to inspire kids to consider how we can coexist and support the pollinators in our world, including helpful backmatter.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Choice of diction here makes this picture book better suited for early elementary than for preK crowds. Colorful old-school style illustrations and rhyming text, would make this an enjoyable addition to any classroom. Check out the facts pages at the back of the book as well!

Themes: nature, pollinators, stories that rhyme
Ages: K-3rd
Pub year: 2026

[Katie Reinert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, bouncy book with a great message about ways that we can help pollinators thrive in areas where there aren't a lot of flowering plants. It's a fun read aloud and a great introduction to the importance of pollinators as well as ways that we can help.

[Katrina Tangen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An empowering invitation to be part of the solution by creating mini-habitats for pollinators. The writing is lyrical and playful with an interesting use of rhyme. It begs to be read aloud! And the art is great too!

[Suzy Levinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetic, fun, and so inspiring! A city's pollinator desert can become a bunch of pollinator opportunities, and kids get to be a part of that positive change! Gorgeous lyrical text by Michelle Schaub, vibrant and cheerful art by Blanca Gomez. Great back matter, too!

[Katy Tanis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blanca Gómez’s illustrations are so inviting its impossible to ignore this book! Through playful and poetic language we see that small changes can make big impact and the power of community. An empowering book for budding environmentalists.

[Meghan Bohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like how it spells out the simple idea of planting just a small amount of flowers (just a pot!) every 150 meters to form a continuing habitat for pollinators. That definitely sets it apart from the multiple other pollinator books out there.

[Jacqueline Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written book that highlights the importance of pollinators and the impact of small actions. Highly recommend for any child’s library.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely will be reading more from this author for our homeschool lessons. This fit beautifully for our botany unit

[Angie Quantrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the idea of a pathway for pollinators! Let's do it!

[Y.Poston]

beautiful natural mindfulness encouragement