We are quickly approaching the beautiful season and the awakening of nature: plants will soon be covered in flowers, and bees will return to visit them. However, their numbers are dwindling. Why is this happening? With our young readers, we will discover the reasons alongside little Bee Valentina.
The bees in Valentina’s hive are mysteriously falling ill, prompting her mother, the Queen Bee, to entrust her with a crucial mission: uncover the causes of the illness and find a solution. Valentina embarks on an adventurous journey, encountering various animals and elements that influence her world. Along her path, she meets intriguing creatures: unfamiliar insects, caterpillars, hornets, grasshoppers, a bee-eater, and other animals. She discovers new flowers and eventually encounters humans. Through her journey, Valentina learns that in nature, no animal is inherently good or bad, as each plays a vital role in the cycle of life.
Series I custodi del Pianeta
Pages: 532 ill., Paperback | Illustrations: Silvia Toson
EAN: 979855209985
Reading age: From 3 years
However, some individuals disrupt the natural balance by polluting the environment, using pesticides, altering ecosystems, destroying forests, and contributing to climate change, which leads to biodiversity loss and extreme weather events. Fortunately, not everyone acts this way! By the end of her adventurous journey, she gains a clear understanding of the world and the roles and impacts of her encounters on the ecosystem. Pesticides, habitat loss, monocultures, intensive agriculture, parasites, diseases, and climate change threaten bees’ existence. The knowledge she gathers will be invaluable in restoring her family to health and activity. Alongside little Valentina the Bee, our young readers, and even their parents and other adults, will explore the world of these extraordinary insects, appreciate the beauty of nature, and recognize their significance to our lives and the world. They will learn that everyone can contribute to their survival, even by planting flowers in their gardens.
Written by Giancarlo Oldani, a hobby beekeeper, and featuring beautiful illustrations by Silvia Toson, this book is designed for children aged 3 to 10 and adults eager to explore the world of bees. “AcciPolline!: Le avventure dell’ape Valentina” is part of the series “I custodi del Pianeta,” which also includes the following titles:
- “Coccipicchia!: Alla scoperta dell’agricoltura biologica”
- “SaperliPollen!: Les aventures de l’abeille Pauline”
- “UnBEElievable!: Valentina’s Adventures”
The series is dedicated to today’s children, the future Guardians of the Planet, to help them understand the challenges nature faces, largely due to human activity. It aims to foster in them a sense of awareness and belonging, rather than ownership, toward the Earth and all its inhabitants.
Credits
Maria Beatrice Lupi is a naturalist and an expert in training, sustainable development planning, participatory methodologies, and European planning. She is currently engaged in dissemination and education for sustainability.
Translated by Maria Antonietta Sessa
