Unlikely bug buddies bring the science of compost heaps to life

Bee is spending another beautiful, boring day pollinating flowers in the backyard when a visitor named Flea gallops onto the scene on a dog’s back. Flea is the one and only agent of the Fenced-in-Area Law Enforcement Agency (the F.L.E.A. for short) and she’s heard about trouble in the compost heap: it’s erupted into a wild frenzy, and Flea needs to investigate. Enlisting Bee in the investigation, the pair flies off to the scene of the crime, where they discover compost critters dancing, slime surfing, and playing games of dodge-poo. But is there more to this compost chaos than meets the eye?

This hilarious hop through the compost heap is the first book in a primary chapter book series featuring Bee and Flea. Lively black and white illustrations bring the crime-fighting team to life, while stealthy, accessible STEM content introduces readers to the tiniest composting creatures and how they make backyards bloom.

ANNA HUMPHREY dreamt of being a writer since she was a teenager, and those dreams came true with the publication of her first YA novel, Mission (Un)Popular. Clara Humble and the Kitten Caboodle is the third and final book in the three-book Clara Humble series. Anna lives with her family in Kitchener, Ontario.

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Mike Deas est auteur-illustrateur de bandes dessinées, telles que Tank and Fizz and The Case of the Tentacle Terror. Il signe aussi les illustrations de la série Graphic Guide Adventure. Sa passion pour l'illustration a été entretenue tout au long de son enfance à l'île Saltspring, en Colombie-Britannique où il habite encore aujourd'hui.

MIKE DEAS is an author/illustrator of graphic novels, most recently Tank and Fizz and the Case of the Tentacle Terror. He is the illustrator of the Graphic Guide Adventure series. His love for illustrative storytelling comes from an early love of reading and drawing while growing up on Saltspring Island, British Columbia. Visit him online at www.deasillustration.com.

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• Commended, Best Books for Kids and Teens

"This easy-to-read, engaging exploration of the composting process provides lots of scientific facts ... a buzz-worthy beginning chapter book that is heaps of fun."

Canadian Review of Materials

"Blends STEM concepts with humor and a story about buddies. This title is sure to be popular with chapter book readers, budding scientists, and anyone who enjoys gross-out humor."

Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database

"Humphrey deftly balances jokes, puns, and STEM tidbits ... This should be a big hit with primary school kids who like buddy comedies, bugs, and gross-out humour."

Quill & Quire - STARRED REVIEW

"Bee & Flea and the Compost Caper is a chapter book with lots to love. Author and artist seamlessly incorporate STEM facts ... A sure favorite."

Shelf Awareness - STARRED REVIEW

"A STEM-tastic exploration of the composting process and the little-known creatures that make it possible."

School Library Journal