Learn about the life cycles of different kinds of bees in this enlightening picture book.

As flowers and trees begin to bud and bloom, Nox Ap, the bee mother, emerges from her winter sleep. To the Gitxsan, she is nature’s gardener. Without her hard work as a pollinator, we could not enjoy the fruits of strawberries and huckleberries. Follow her life from the first thaw of spring to the end of autumn.

In the seventh book of Hetxw'ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson)’s Mothers of Xsan series, readers will discover the important role of the bumblebee, the honeybee, and the yellow jacket wasp in the Xsan ecosystem.

Prizes

Commended for Blueberry Awards 2024 (United States),Nominated for Next Generation Indie Book Awards 2025 (United States)

Described with delicious adjectives (“pillowy moss floor”) that enrich the story...lushly ­colored and detailed; the fur on the bumblebee looks ready to be brushed. This great blend of nonfiction with narrative and amazing illustrations will engage readers in the life of bees and their significance to the Gitxsan Nation. A solid general purchase.

I am forever enamored with the way that traditional depictions of the natural world that Natasha Donovan includes in her illustrations. The entire series masterfully blends together nonfiction information about different mothers with an emphasis on the interconnectedness between humans and non-humans.

AICL has enthusiastically recommended the other six books in the Mothers of Xsan series. The Bee Mother is a timely and relevant addition to the series. Highly recommended.

Each of the Mothers of Xsan illustrated children’s books presents science within the cultural context of the Gitxsan Nation’s close relationship with nature, with an emphasis on mothers. The Bee Mother shines a spotlight on pollinators: bumblebees, honeybees, and wasps.

Who doesn’t like bumblebees? They shouldn’t be able to fly and yet there they are bobbing among the spring flowers and making Nature come to life. They are a wonder and this beautiful little book simply and colourfully explains why.

This is a book to read slowly and savour. Guided by a teacher or elder, middle graders can pore over sumptuous visuals as they build language skills, gain a better understanding of the Gitxsan, and appreciate the value of nature’s gardeners.

Hetxw'ms Gyetxw, also known as Brett D. Huson (he/him/his), is an award-winning storyteller and artist from the Gitxsan Nation in the Northwest Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Having grown up in this strong matrilineal society, he is passionate about his people's land and way of life. Brett’s vision to share the knowledge, stories, and worlds of the Gitxsan was the inspiration behind his award-winning Mothers of Xsan series. He is also a Research Associate at the Prairie Climate Centre, where he is developing new methods to bridge the gap between Indigenous knowledges and western sciences. With the support of his wife, Jeri, and their children, Warren and Ruby, Brett endeavours to continue sharing stories through writing, art, and photography. Natasha Donovan (she/her/hers) is a Métis illustrator originally from Vancouver, British Columbia. Her sequential work has been published in This Place: 150 Years Retold and Wonderful Women of History. She is the illustrator of the award-winning Surviving the City graphic novel series and Mothers of Xsan children's book series, as well as Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer and the forthcoming A Good Hide by Karina Iceberg. She lives on an island in British Columbia with her family. @natashamdonovan