Bee & Flea and the Compost Caper (Bee and Flea #1)

Gr 1-4--Backyard Bee is minding her own business pollinating flowers when Flea, the one and only agent in the Fenced-in-Area Law Enforcement Agency (F.L.E.A.), bursts into her world and enlists her help. There's chaos in the compost heap, and somebody needs to do something about it! When the pair arrives on the scene, Bee can't understand the emergency--until she puts on the magical glasses Flea has provided her in the F.L.E.A. tool tote. It's then that Bee sees a teeming mass of activity taking place in the microscopic world: pincered critters wrestling in muck, worms stuffing their cheeks with bacteria, and even a group of mites hurling poop at each other. Bee and Flea need to figure out what's going on and restore order. Or, do they? What follows is a STEM-tastic exploration of the composting process and the little-known creatures that make it possible. While advanced vocabulary and literary devices may place this book beyond the comprehension of many in the intended age group, the scientific content presented with regard to composting is very accessible and is even bolstered by factual back matter presented in a fun quiz format. VERDICT This book is an excellent fit for young readers capable of tearing through books far above their emotional maturity. Purchase for collections needing new series for precocious readers.--Jennifer Noonan