Kiwi Bees Have Tiny Knees product reviews

When my own children were young, we kept honey bees. Because of that I thought I was quite knowledgeable on this subject, but I was surprised to learn that Aotearoa New Zealand has its own native bees. Not only that, they are relatively friendly and don't go out of their way to sting people. My own first bees were black Germans, small creatures that had adapted to harsher climates and could be quite aggressive. Later I discovered the more laid back (and larger) Italian bees which could be worked without protective gear. Even so, they can deliver the occasional sting. So the little Kiwi bees appear to be stars, and even though they do not produce honey for human consumption, they are skilled pollinators which is just as important.

I chose to share this book with a friend's grandchildren. They are into nature and the environment and are old enough to understand the content. While this is a book designed as a reference book for children, it is suitable for readers of any age. It is beautifully laid out with a great deal of information, interesting graphics, and a full bibliography at the end for anyone who wants to explore the subject further. There are also QR codes which can be scanned for access to short clips. Initially Mr Eight was wary of testing them as he once got into trouble with his mother for ordering something frivolous online with the help of her mobile phone. She was not amused! However, Miss Twelve was more than happy to access them and by the time she had looked at the second clip he was enthusiastically on board.

Both children were amazed (as was I) to learn about these unique creatures. Mr Eight has only just learned to differentiate between wasps and honey bees, but he knew that you did not mess with either. It was reassuring to learn that the tiny natives are not out to get him. I had to laugh when Miss Twelve asked whether they carried COVID as she has had it once and does not want to get it again. I quickly realised that she had confused the word "endemic" with "epidemic", so we had to stop reading for a moment and unpack some of the technical terms. Luckily, most are explained in the glossary at the end of the book.

The children liked the Hairy Bee best because of the larger size. There are 18 different types of Hairy Bee, but they are generally bigger than the Masked and Sweat bees. Mr Eight loved the way the colourful pollen sticks on their furry legs. He thought it was really pretty. He was also intrigued that they build nests by digging into the ground and making series of tunnels; he wondered if the game of Minecraft was inspired by them! Miss Twelve loved the picture of the Masked Bee blowing bubbles while reclining on a sun lounger.

The children's grandfather recently had a knee replacement and is currently hobbling round with the help of a stick. They were fascinated to find out that the book title ("Kiwi Bees Have Tiny Knees") was an accurate statement. Technically the bees' knees are not really knees, but they do have a ball and socket joint half way down their legs. Mr Eight asked what would happen to a bee who damaged its leg and needed surgery, but nobody could answer that one. It is hilarious to imagine a bee limping around with one leg in plaster, however. As for the expression "the bee's knees", we wondered if this started as a reference to the wonderful appearance of a bee weighed down with all that valuable pollen decorating her legs.

The last section of the book has several sections with useful links and suggestions for further research as well as acknowledgements to the many photographers and those who provided video material via QR codes. This was the only section we found hard to read because the font is so small. However, that is a minor issue in the larger scope of the book itself. It is a reference book the children will revisit constantly, and the hard cover format means it will withstand handling over many years. All three of us were delighted with it and have learned a great deal in the process.