BOOKS ON THE SUBJECT

Bees are hot in publishing circles, with new titles swarming onto shelves. Here are just a few:

"Honeybee: Lessons From an Accidental Beekeeper" by Marina Marchese (Black Dog & Leventhal, $22.95). A Connecticut beekeeper chronicles her 10-year journey from corporate wage slave to artisanal honey entrepreneur.

"Plan/bee: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Hardest-Working Creatures on the Planet" by Susan Brackney (Perigee, $1.95). An Indiana beekeeper offers her breezy, whimsical take on bees, their behavior and how to get started on the hobby.

"A Short History of the Honey Bee: Humans, Flowers and Bees in the Eternal Chase for Honey" by E. Readicker-Henderson, with photos by Ilona McCarty (Timber Press, $19.95). A Washington beekeeper-turned-writer combs through bee science and lore, offering personal insights and practical tips.

KIM PALMER