Description
Journey through the world of California native bees, one letter at a time.
National Geographic Explorer Krystle Hickman has spent nearly a decade capturing exquisitely detailed photographs of native bees and making exciting discoveries about their behavior in the field. In her debut book of natural history, she offers an intimate look at the daily habits of rare and overlooked native bees in California: those cloaked in green or black or red, that live alone in the ground or sleep inside flowers, that invade nests and pillage resources like infinitesimal conquerors, or that, unlike more generalist honeybees, are devoted exclusively to the pollen of a single type of flower. A committed conservationist and community scientist who knows all too well how precarious the wellbeing of these insects is, Hickman shares her adventures in local native plant gardens and throughout the far reaches of California to bring the beauty of such diverse ecosystems into wondrous bee’s-eye view. Meant for all curious readers, this collection of bee stories—one for each letter of the alphabet, matching the first letter of a bee’s scientific name—will leave you both wowed and compelled to help save these fascinating beings and the lands they call home.
Awards
2026 Living Now Book Award Gold Medalist, Green Living
2026 IPPY Gold Medal, Animals Category
2026 IndieReader Discovery Awards winner in Photography, Nonfiction
2026 Eric Hoffer Book Award Finalist
2026 Next Generation Indie Book Award Winner
Los Angeles Times Best Book Club Pick of 2026
2025Â Foreword INDIES Bronze Winner, Environment & Ecology
Los Angeles Times Best Science Books of 2025
Los Angeles Times Best Affordable Books for Plant Lovers of 2025
Reviews
“In this breathtaking collection, Krystle Hickman captures the dazzling diversity of California’s native bees—many no larger than a breadcrumb—with extraordinary clarity and care. From windswept deserts to coastal bluffs and alpine meadows, her travels across wild landscapes reveal rare and elusive pollinators, each one meticulously photographed and arranged in a brilliant A-to-Z tribute. Her evocative writing brings each bee’s story (and her own) to life, transforming already stunning images into intimate portraits of nature’s quiet brilliance. This book is a must-have for lovers of natural history.” —Olivia Messinger Carril, coauthor of The Bees in Your Backyard
“When Krystle Hickman talks bees, I listen. This book is a stunning portrait of the landscape around us, and then Krystle draws us in closer to a macro look at the overlooked, diverse, gorgeous, fascinating bees that deserve our attention and awe. As readers, we are so lucky to experience these creatures’ stories through her eyes and words.” —Alie Ward, host of the Ologies podcast
“Nat Geo Explorer Krystle Hickman takes us with her on several years of adventures discovering the myriad fascinating native bees of California. If you’ve ever wanted to know more about our unique native ground and twig-nesting bees, this is the essential bee primer for you. I encourage you to dive in and enjoy this vibrant bestiary, illustrated with 237 of her breathtakingly beautiful original photographs.” —Stephen Buchmann, co-author of The Forgotten Pollinators
“Be warned. This book might induce readers to become more careful observers of bees, seek venues for nature walks or become curious about native plants. […] A fascinating read [with] superb photographs.” —California Review of Books
