Bee & Flea, and the Puddle Problem

The comedic environmental sleuthing duo who examined microorganisms and microscopic mysteries in Bee & Flea and the Compost Caper return for another scientific investigation.

In this installment, Flea, the sassy parasite who is “Agent 1 of the Fenced-in-area Law Enforcement Agency (or F.L.E.A. for short)”, is excited to get an invitation to an after-the-rain bash in a puddle. Bee, however, is terrified of water and pooh-poohs the prospect of attending a pool party. Donning an itty-bitty “flea-kini”, enthusiastic Flea strong-arms her sub-agent in training into a new adventure.

After working hard all week serving and protecting the garden, Flea wants to unwind and make some time for R & R. Duty-bound Bee thinks she means “Rule Reinforcing” or “Regulation Reminding” or “Review of Restrictions”. While Flea is busy off-duty “chillaxin’”, Bee, in the hopes of garnering a promotion, vows to remain on patrol for misdemeanors and suspicious activity.

The 14 easy-to-read chapters take an “Exciting, educational and occasionally gross” deep dive into underwater microorganisms, the water cycle and evaporation. A plethora of fascinating facts are conversationally woven into the narrative. Bee and Flea hop a ride to the party on a raft steered and created by a mosquito: “Coochy-coochy coo! … Maria laid this boat herself. It’s built from 399 of her strongest, most adorable eggs.” After floating in stagnant water for a spell, the pair don scuba gear and get down and party in the puddle where they hobnob with heliozoans, meet up with dancing water fleas all named Daphnia, and Bee gets a pond-scum pie in the face courtesy of a small aquatic crustacean called Copepod the Clown.

As Bee spreads her wings, she comes to the aid of a lost baby water bear and solves the mystery of why the puddle is shrinking. Snappy writing keeps the momentum running high. Witty banter flies between the characters, with lots of puns and word play, like calling diving masks with built-in walkie-talkies “swimmy-speakies.”

Adding another layer of humour, Mike Deas’ detailed pen-and-ink illustrations appear throughout the short chapters. Bee is gussied up in a flouncy tutu made of flower petals for the party, and her scuba helmet is outfitted with a propeller. Expressions can be clearly read on the characters’ faces, from Gail the Snail’s hilarious eye roll, to Baby Bear’s glee when splashing in the watery shallows.

Through perseverance, initiative and thoughtful attention to detail, Bee earns herself a promotion. A quiz at the end invites readers to apply the STEM knowledge they have learned in this informative and fun beginning chapter book and become an official, badge-wearing F.L.E.A. agent too.