The Children's Wainwright Prize for Non-Fiction

Shortlist 2025

University of Cambridge: Think Big: Secrets of Bees

By Ben Hoare and Nina Chakrabarti

Bees are incredible! There are so many different kinds found all over the world, from honeybees to diggers, leafcutters, and even meat-eating vulture bees. Discover how a bee’s eyes see the world in a unique way, how bees pollinate plants, how they communicate with a waggle dance, and how  without bees, the world would be a very different (and much less wonderful) place. Created in consultation with Professor Beverley Glover and Dr Sally Lee of the Cambridge University Botanic Garden.

Ben Hoare
Nina Chakrabarti

About Ben Hoare and Nina Chakrabarti

Ben Hoare is a bestselling wildlife writer who still can’t quite believe that being a nature nerd is actually what he does for a living. After studying at the University of Cambridge he became an editor of children’s non-fiction, then worked at BBC Wildlife Magazine, where he went in search of everything from leafcutter ants to whale sharks and met many of his heroes in conservation and natural-history TV. After that Ben became a full-time writer. A massive fan of libraries, he loves discovering cool facts about weird and wonderful species. Now based in Somerset, he keeps chickens and used to be a beekeeper. His top tip? Never be sick in your snorkel.

Award winning illustrator Nina Chakrabarti grew up in Kolkata, India, and moved to the United Kingdom in her teens. She brings her joyful style and distinctive line quality to an eclectic range of commissioned work and has written several books for children, including the international bestseller My Wonderful World of Fashion. Taking inspiration from both the extraordinary and the often overlooked, Nina has created a series of illustrated books that invite children to reflect on their relationships with all sorts of things – from fungi to fashion, from ancient pots to a childhood stamp collection. She lives and works in Hastings, on the south coast of England.

 

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