Bee & Flea and the Puddle Problem

“It’s been a busy week for the F.L.E.A. (Fenced-in Area Law Enforcement Agency) as Bee and Flea chase bug-related crime. But Bee worries it’s Flea solving all the cases. When Gail the Snail delivers an invitation to an after-the-rain party, Flea closes up shop and drags Bee along. The worst part? The party is IN a puddle. Bee doesn’t even know how to swim… but soon, she and Flea are sinking into the depths in their Scuba gear. First, they meet Copepod the Clown, who gives Bee a pie to the face… and a bouquet of bacteria balloons to make up for it. Then, in the midst of a game of water-bear musical chairs–WHOOSH!–Bee is swept off into the abyss. Bee is lost and fed up… when the balloons (which, it turns out, are alive) point out something nearby. It’s Baby Water Bear, alone and frightened. This is Bee’s chance to be useful: she’ll return the baby to her mother! But on her way, Bee discovers a bigger problem… the water’s edge is moving. The puddle is getting smaller. Why? With help from Gail the Snail, Bee pieces together the truth about the disappearing puddle as she tries to save her friends’ home–and learns that she is a worthy agent, after all. Throughout this adventure, readers will meet the teeny-tiny critters that live in and around puddles (such as snails, water fleas, copepods, and mosquitoes). Kids will also learn about evaporation and the cycle of life in a light, understandable way. Seeing Bee persevering and accomplishing her goal is inspiring for readers, but resists being overly saccharine, since she can’t save the puddle (but knows there will be more, after future rainstorms). Complemented by the dynamic black-and-white illustrations of Mike Deas, this story reunites the hilarious duo of Bee and Flea, and lets underling Bee take the reins… and earn her F.L.E.A. badge!”–