My mom sent me this gorgeous video of the wonders of pollination.
The Beauty of Pollination – Wings of Life
We try to plant a garden every spring that attracts butterflies but I miss the hummingbirds that used to visit my garden in California. I think there are hummingbirds in New England, but I haven’t seen any in my garden yet. I probably need a hummingbird feeder though.
Science Activities for Kids
Raise Butterflies
Another fun summer science experiment might be to raise butterflies. We had success raising Painted Lady butterflies but we were not so successful with a similar kit for raising ladybugs.
Fascinations GreenEarth Butterfly Kit
And if your kids like this video, see if any of these books appeal to them also.
9 Children’s Books About Pollination
Pollination is explained in a very straightforward way in this colorfully illustrated picture book. Learn about the insects and plants involved in this important process. Readers might be inspired to start a pollination garden of their own! [nonfiction picture book, ages 3 and up]
I Saw A Bee by Rob Ramsden
A little boy plays hide and seek with a bee. Readers who know about beekeeping might imagine the box in the illustrations as an empty bee hive box, perhaps soon to be filled with a colony that produces honey! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mallifera by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann
This won the 2021 Sibert Award! A honeybee emerges from her cell. Her life begins with taking care of the hive until she is strong enough to fly. Then, she’s off into the world in search of nectar to bring back. Learn about the plight of the honeybees in this stunning nonfiction book. [picture book, ages 6 and up]
The Great Pollinator Count by Susan Edwards Richmond, illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman
Mellie is excited to count pollinating insects at Science Club, but she’s paired with Jason, who is less enthusiastic. They need to identify each species of bees that they see, and Mellie has a fun way to remember. By the end of their count, Jason has embraced their Science Club outing and is ready for another kind of animal count! This is a really fun way to introduce kids to pollinators! [nonfiction picture book, ages 4 and up]
What if There Were No Bees? by Suzanne Slade
Grassland ecosystems can be found on nearly every continent. Countless animals and plants live in them. So what difference could the loss of one animal species make? Follow the chain reaction, and discover how important honey bees are. [picture book, ages 6 and up]
The Bee Mother by Hetxw’ms Gyetxw Brett D. Huson, illustrated by Natasha Donovan
The bee mother, Nox Ap, emerges after winter ends. Like the yellow jacket wasp, she leaves her nest in search of a new home. While their nests are different — the yellow jacket wasp, a paper hive, and the honeybee, a hollow tree — both get to work to lay eggs for a new hive. Learn about their life cycle from the perspective of Native Americans, specifically the Gitxsan Nation in British Columbia, Canada. [nonfiction middle grade picture book, ages 9 and up]
The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds: A Book About How Living Things Grow by Joanna Cole
Ms. Frizzle’s class is growing a beautiful garden, but Phoebe’s plot is empty. Her flowers are at her old school! So, the kids climb aboard the Magic School Bus. They go to Phoebe’s old school to get some of her old flowers, but they end up actually going inside the flowers. Follow the kids’ colorful adventures as they learn how living things grow. [picture book, ages 6 and up]
The Magic School Bus Inside a Beehive by Joanna Cole
When the Magic School Bus turns into a beehive, Ms. Frizzle’s class learns firsthand about how workers, drones, and the queen bees live together. Readers will be abuzz with knowledge as they discover how honeybees find food; make a comb, honey, and beeswax; and care for their young, all from the bee’s perspective. [picture book, ages 6 and up]
Before the Seed by Susannah Buhrman-Deever, illustrated by Gina Triplett & Matt Curtius
This is the story of pollination and it’s surprisingly complex. It’s not just bees that pollinate plants, but bats, birds, and other insects including beetles, moths & butterflies. Gorgeous illustrations draw the reader into this secret world of plants and creatures. [nonfiction picture book, ages 7 and up]
p.s. Related posts:
DIY Bee House STEM Project for Kids
Bee Barf is Honey? Books & Videos for Kids
To examine any of the items listed, please click on image of item.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
image from UMass.edu
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Science Fun on Pinterest.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.
My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Gold Award
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación
- ⭐ Starred review from Kirkus Reviews!
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
The Traveling Taco:
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Silver Award
- Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
- ALSC Notable Children’s Book
- 2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award Middle Level Honoree
- Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
- 2024 Julia Ward Howe Prize for Children’s Literature Winner
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor Book
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2025
- Recommended Reading for the Social Justice Literature Award 2025 (International Literacy Association)
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal!
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
- Sunshine State Young Readers Award Orange Blossom List for Nonfiction
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bank Street College’s The Best Children’s Books of the Year
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
This is a great post. I have signed up to receive your posts by email. Thanks for all your hard work!
Hi Debbie,
Thanks so much for signing up. You are entered to win!
What a gorgeous video! Thanks for sharing. Will make sure the kids watch it today 🙂
Hi Dr. Rajka,
I have to thank my mother for that video! And make my kids watch it too!
Incredible video – to me, the bats, in particular! I saw a hummingbird in my yard once this summer. I got a picture but it didn’t come out very good. According to the Kratt Brothers, if you want hummingbirds in your yard you need to plant red tube-like flowers.
Hi Ann,
I think I need more red flowers. I planted magenta Bee Balm but it’s not surviving very well. I might need a hummingbird feeder. Good to know that they are here in New England!
Great list. My girls love the Magic School Bus books. I’m so glad I don’t have a garden, I so dislike bees!
Hi Vanita,
My girls loved the Magic School Bus books too. I really need to read them with my youngest too! My kids hate bees but they are good!! They won’t sting unless threatened.
We loved your video, we are doing botany.. it was super… thank you
Hi Andrea,
My mother sent me that video. It’s very cool, isn’t it? She sends me cool stuff that she gets in her email.
Great post for some fun summer learning Mia! Thanks so much for linking up at Discover & Explore this week. ~ Jacquie
Thanks Jacquie!