Honey is an important food for humans. More importantly, bees pollinate numerous crops we use for food. That's why it's in our best interests to support bee health. However, scientists have found that colony collapse disorder (CCD) is killing bees across the globe. Author Sandra Markle explores the various ways bee scientists known as apiologists investigate the causes of CCD and work to prevent it as they protect bee populations worldwide.
This book is loaded with full-color illustrations that help readers understand bee behavior and activities.
The text is broken into several short chapters. But some of the content includes long paragraphs so it's not always user-friendly for young readers.
Although the content is more academic than entertaining, readers of all ages can learn more about bees through this book.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This was an amazing book about bees and bee colonies, focusing on threats to them and how these threats are being addressed by apiologists – scientists who study bees. In addition to describing threats to honey bee colonies were accurate descriptions of how dependent humans and other animals are upon honey bees as pollinators of our food as well as the economic importance of the activities of these insects. Honey bees have several functions with their own purposes in the hive and the ecosystem, and all of these were accurately described.

Although I have been a hobby beekeeper in the past, and learned about my little charges, the photos in this book showed me things I did not know – as well as other photos of verroa mites, and illustrations of life cycles of bees and their pests.

The book is written so that elementary school children can understand it, along with the photos and illustrations. It contains a short but excellent glossary of words specific to apiculture (bee raising), which many readers might not be familiar with. The book has references to the source material as well as suggestions about finding out more. Whether the reader is a citizen of a community, a gardener, or is inspired to keep bees themselves, there is plenty here to get someone started in learning what they should or should not do.

In this updated look at how scientists are continuing to work on solving the problem of colony collapse disorder, author Sandra Markle explains how scientists are examining the case by closely examining clues, performing experiments to test their ideas, and offering three useful "prescriptions" to beekeepers. Excellent, helpful illustrations support the clearly written text. This is a masterfully written book. It is perfect for middle grade students, who will gain insight into the scientific process and to the importance of the work.

While there are many wonderful picture books about bees, and more than a few fantastic books intended for an adult reader, up until now there has been little to bridge the gap between the two. Call The Bee Doctor has bright and engaging photos, a solid format that leads the reader through the challenges facing bee colonies today and the various techniques being explored to meet those challenges, and an informative "find out more" section with helpful index. This volume would be a perfect addition to a library's middle grade non-fiction collection, offering a step between picture books like Charlotte Milner's Bee Book and the more text based Where Have All The Bees Gone by Rebecca Hirsch. Thank you to NetGalley for access to this informative arc!

This one was definitely interesting, though it felt a little dated. It kept referencing back to the early 2000s in its research, and while I understand that treatments take several years before they can be advertised and used regularly, I do wish it didn't feel so dated.

Call the Bee Doctor!
How Science Is Saving Honey Bes
From the Series Sandra Markle’s Science Discoveries
Written for students in grades 4-6.
In 1998, European beekeepers discovered honeybees had disappeared from their hives. A few years later beekeepers in the United States discovered the same thing, honeybees had vanished from their hives also. The disappearances are called CCD/Colony Collapse Disorder; no one knew why it was happening. Honeybees are important to the world; they pollinate our crops. Without crops we have little to nothing to eat.
Scientists that study bees are called apiologists, they are also called the bee doctors. They have been studying CCD and how to prevent it.
Thank you for providing a copy of this book for review.