Alvey, Nanny, and the Buzzing Secret

One bright Saturday morning, little Alvey woke up to the sound of buzz, buzz, buzz! He rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked around his room.
“Was that a fly?” he wondered.
But when he peeked out of his window, he saw something magical. Tiny golden bees were dancing around Nanny’s flower garden.

Alvey loved spending days with Nanny. She had the warmest hugs and a garden that smelled like sunshine and strawberries. But today, there was something new. Hundreds of bees were busily flying from flower to flower.

“Nanny!” Alvey shouted as he ran downstairs. “There are bees in your garden! Lots of them!”

Nanny smiled, stirring her tea. “Yes, my love. They’re my little helpers. Come and see what they’re doing.”

The Garden Buzz

Outside, the air hummed gently. The bees looked busy, like tiny dots with fuzzy yellow jackets. Some landed on purple lavender flowers, others dipped into pink roses or bright orange marigolds.

“What are they doing, Nanny?” Alvey asked, looking closely.

“They’re collecting nectar and pollen,” Nanny said, pointing to a bee that had little yellow lumps on its legs. “That bee has pollen baskets on its legs. She’s taking food back to her hive.”

Alvey tilted his head. “But why do they need to take food home? Don’t they just live in the garden?”

Nanny chuckled. “Oh, bees live in a hive; that is their home. Inside the hive, they make something very special. Would you like to guess what it is?”

Alvey’s eyes lit up. “Honey?”

“That’s right!” said Nanny. “The nectar they collect from flowers becomes honey. Bees make it to feed their families, and when they make extra, kind beekeepers share it with us.”

A Lesson in Teamwork

They sat together by the lavender bush, watching the bees move gracefully between flowers.

“You see, Alvey,” Nanny began, “bees are like a big team. Every bee has an important job. Some gather nectar. Some stay home and look after the baby bees. Some guard the hive to keep everyone safe.”

Alvey thought about his classroom. “That’s like school! We all have jobs. Some children tidy up, some hand out pencils, and some are line leaders.”

“Exactly!” said Nanny. “Bees work together, just like good friends and classmates. They can’t make honey on their own. It takes hundreds of bees working together to make just one little jar.”

Alvey gasped. “Hundreds? For one jar?”

Nanny nodded. “Yes, my love. That’s why we always thank the bees when we enjoy a bit of honey on our toast.”

A Little Bit of Worry

Just then, a bee flew close to Alvey’s face. He froze. “Nanny… what if it stings me?”

Nanny placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, Alvey. Bees don’t want to sting people. They only do that if they’re frightened or if someone tries to hurt them. If we stay calm and still, they’ll just fly away.”

Alvey stood very still, watching the tiny bee buzz past him and land on a sunflower.
“It wasn’t scary,” he whispered.
Nanny smiled. “See? Bees are gentle if we’re gentle with them.”

How Bees Help the World

Nanny picked a bright red apple from a tree and handed it to Alvey. “You know, this apple wouldn’t exist without bees.”

Alvey’s eyes widened. “Really? How?”

“Well,” said Nanny, “when bees visit flowers, they move pollen from one flower to another. That helps the flowers make seeds and fruits. Without bees, many of our favorite foods, like apples, strawberries, pumpkins, and even chocolate, wouldn’t grow.”

Alvey looked at the apple differently now. “So bees help make food for everyone?”

“Yes,” said Nanny. “They help the whole world.

They’re tiny, but they do such big work.”

Bees Need Our Help Too

As they walked through the garden, Nanny pointed to a patch of wildflowers by the fence.
“These flowers are for the bees,” she said. “Many bees are losing their homes because there are fewer flowers and safe places for them to live.”

Alvey frowned. “That’s sad. Can we help them, Nanny?”

“Of course we can,” said Nanny. “We can plant flowers that bees love, like lavender, daisies, and sunflowers. We can give them little bee hotels to rest in. And we can always be kind. We should never swat them or spray things that might hurt them.”

Alvey thought for a moment. “I’m going to tell everyone at school to plant flowers for bees!”

“That’s a wonderful idea,” said Nanny proudly. “One small act of kindness can make a big difference.”

Honey Toast and Happy Hearts

Later that afternoon, Nanny made tea and toast with golden honey. Alvey watched the honey drip slowly onto his plate.

“Do you think the bees made this?” he asked.

“Yes,” said Nanny softly. “Somewhere, a hive full of bees worked together to make this very honey.”

Alvey took a bite. It tasted sweet and warm, like sunshine.
“I think I love bees now,” he said, smiling.

For Parents, Carers, and Teachers

Nanny poured another cup of tea and looked out at the garden, where the bees were still busy at work. She spoke softly, as if she were sharing a secret with the grown-ups reading along:

“Bees remind us that even the smallest creatures can teach great lessons. They show children what teamwork looks like. They show how every job, no matter how small, matters to the whole. They teach us to care for the earth, to be gentle with nature, and to see beauty in tiny things.”

If you’re reading this story with little ones, here are a few ideas to help them be kind and curious:

1. Plant a Bee Garden: Choose flowers that bloom in different seasons so bees always have food. Lavender, daisies, and sunflowers are wonderful starters.

2. Observe and Draw: Encourage children to sit quietly and watch bees at work. What colors do they see? How do bees move? Drawing what they notice helps them learn to observe gently.

3. Taste and Talk: Try a bit of honey together and discuss how it’s made. Children love connecting what they eat to how it grows.

4. Read and Explore: Books like Alvey Starr - The Mystery of the Missing Bees, or, Alvey Starr - The Bee That Lost Its Buzz, by N. Ribbet, are great companions for curious minds.

5. Talk About Fear Kindly: Teach children that fear can be replaced by understanding. Bees aren’t “bad”, they’re just busy doing important work.

Nanny always said, “When children learn to love small things, they grow big hearts.”

The End... or Just the Beginning

That night, Alvey stood by his window, watching the moonlight shine on Nanny’s garden. The bees were resting now, tucked safely inside their hive.
“Goodnight, little helpers,” he whispered. “Thank you for the honey.”

And in the quiet garden, a single bee buzzed softly, almost as if to say,
“You’re welcome, Alvey.”