We all know children who get a ‘bee in their bonnet’ (pun intended) and won’t let it go. This is such a story, but for all the right reasons.

Hurrah! It’s summer. Anna can’t wait for Friends, Fun, and Flowers day camp to begin in her school’s friendship garden. Her younger brother, Collin, is thrilled to be going to the Bugs, Bugs, Bugs day camp there. Then, not enough people sign up for Bugs, Bugs, Bugs.   Bugs, Bugs, Bugs and Friends, Fun, and Flowers are combined to become Sweet Peas and Honeybees. Anna is not thrilled with having her little brother around. On the first day of camp, they go on a field trip to an apiary, much to Collin’s delight. Anna is asked to be Collin’s buddy as the group walks there. “N-O F-A-I-R!” (18) Anna thinks. Collin is acting like an insect all the way there. “The apiary sat on the rooftop of a nearby apartment building.”(19) Mr. Blanco, the bee keeper, gave information about bees.  Collin stated, ” ‘ honeybee colonies are dying.’ ”    “Mr. Blanco nodded sadly…’And if we lose too many, that means lots of food that we enjoy…might disappear.’ ” (25) Now Anna wants to help solve the bee problem.

Anna asks her father to take her to their neighborhood home owners’ meeting dealing with spraying their yards with weed killer. At the meeting Anna shares her information about the blight of honeybees and of their importance. The meeting goes long, the vote will be taken at a later time.

Anna, with Collin’s help, plans to help the honeybees by throwing a BIG BEE BASH. Their invitations read: “Come to Anna and Collin’s house for honey-sweetened treats, waggle dancing, and bee games and activities. Monday night at 7 p.m.’ …they took a walk around their neighborhood with their mom and dad and passed out invitations to their friends and neighbors. They brought an invitation to Mr. Blanco, and asked him to bring his cool bee stuff and honey to sell. She knew he could get people excited about bees.” ( 86) They posted an invitation at the school garden, too, along with a place to donate to the ‘Wildflower Fund’.

Their Big Bee Bash is a success. The homeowner’s society still vote to spray their yards with weed killer, though. Anna is disappointed she has not made a bigger difference. Her parents reassure her that every little bit helps, “it will all add up.” (104)

In the end,  two hives are put on the roof of mom’s restaurant.

The story ends, but there are two more items of interest. The first are directions to the ‘Waggle Dance Game’ from the Big Bee Bash. These are similar to the dance honeybees do to point out directions to flowers for other bees. The second item is a recipe for Anna’s honey cinnamon ice cream.