The author of Those Shoes and an award-winning illustrator

team up for the story of a girl who tries to overcome her fear
of bees to see how amazing they are.

MARIBETH BOELTS illustrated by ANGELA DOMINGUEZ

Kaia is the brave type. Like hottest-hot-pepper brave. But there

is one thing that scares her: BEES! And right now, thousands
of bees live on her roof because Kaia’s dad is a beekeeper.
Her dad says that the world needs bees and that’s why they
are beekeepers. But only he goes on the roof, not Kaia—unless
she can find a way to be the brave girl she always says she
is. Against a sunny city setting, author Maribeth Boelts and
illustrator Angela Dominguez depict Kaia’s small courageous
steps—and her tiny insect neighbors—with great empathy and
charm. Buzzing with storytime potential, Kaia and the Bees is
an honest and relatable tale about bravery and compassion, as
well as the importance of bees to our world.
On sale March 10, 2020
HC: 978-1-5362-0105-5 • $16.99 ($22.99 CAN) • Ages 4–8 • 40 pages

Maribeth Boelts is the author of many books for young readers,

including Happy Like Soccer, illustrated by Lauren Castillo, and
Those Shoes and A Bike Like Sergio’s, both illustrated by Noah Z.
Jones. Maribeth Boelts lives in Iowa.

Angela Dominguez has created many books for young readers,

including Maria Had a Little Llama/María Tenía Una Llamita,
a Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Honor Book. She also illustrated
Mango, Abuela, and Me, written by Meg Medina, also a Pura
Belpré Illustrator Award Honor Book. Angela Dominguez lives
in New York City.

Illustrations copyright © 2020 by Angela Dominguez

Media Contact: Laura Rivas, Senior Publicist • laura.rivas@candlewick.com • (617) 588-4457

A Note from Maribeth Boelts

In becoming beekeepers, our family developed an empathy and deep

appreciation for bees. We saw them at both their very strongest—
making honey, pollinating plants, and raising their young—and as they
were weakened by some of their many challenges, such as modern-day
chemicals in the environment, lack of forage, and changing weather
patterns. It was worth the occasional stings to know that we were
doing something good for the world around us and making our bees
happy and productive, too. Kaia and the Bees was written to celebrate
honeybees, increase understanding and awareness about them, and, in
turn, decrease a common fear. Bees need our help and protection, and
we need the bees!

Beekeeping with Maribeth Boelts

Photos by Maribeth Boelts

Other titles by Maribeth Boelts

illustrated by Noah Z. Jones illustrated by Lauren Castillo illustrated by Noah Z. Jones

HC: 978-0-7636-6649-1 HC: 978-0-7636-4616-5 HC: 978-0-7636-2499-6
PB: 978-1-5362-0295-3 PB: 978-0-7636-7049-8 PB: 978-0-7636-4284-6
Also available in Spanish Also available in Spanish Also available in Spanish and as an e-book

Illustration copyright © 2020 by Angela Dominguez