Jane E M Atkinson - ANNA & BELLAs Bee-utiful Summer

Hi, Im Anna.

If youve read my other books, then you can skip this part. But if you havent, Ill need to explain a few things.

About a year ago, I found a very special gem that whisked my sister, Bella, and me away to a magical land called Flower.

In many ways, Flower is just like our world. There are people, schools, a library, and stores. But one thing Flower has that we dont, is magic!

In Flower, there are mermaids, fairies, and even a magical family. Some of our best friends live there.

Tulip, Lily, Ivy, and Rose These are some of our fairy friends. I just love being a fairy. You have no idea how amazing it is to fly!

Amelia, Julia, and Jack They live in the village and are regular kids like us.

Finn He lives with his magical family in Winter Woods. Bella and I know his secret (that hes magical), and were hoping hell tell our other friends soon.

Kate and Maria Theyre our mermaid friends. We always have an amazing time exploring the ocean.

Keira Shes a real princess, but dresses and acts just like Bella and me. Keiras mom, Queen Katherine, is like our second mom.

The last thing that I need to tell you is the most important thing of all, especially if youre reading this book at bedtime. I promise that you will never, ever find any mean or scary characters in any of my books.

So, now that youre all caught up, just sit back, relax, and enjoy the story!

Its finally summer time, which means Bella and I can play together all day!

My name is Anna, and Bella is my younger sister. Were in Brookside, visiting our nana and gramps. They live in a cozy cottage by the river.

There is always so much to do here. Bella and I love to swing on the special swings Gramps built for us. We also like to swim, walk, and make sand castles by the river.

Today, weve decided to do some painting.

Mom, Nana, Bella, and I are on our way to Nanas greenhouse, which we use for crafting. Bella and I are going to paint our fairy houses.

We built the houses last year with Gramps, and then put them in Nanas rose garden. During hot summer afternoons, Bella and I would lie in the shade of a maple tree and watch our houses, hoping a fairy would come to visit. Sadly, no fairies ever did.

But this year will be completely different because Bella and I share an amazing secret. We know that fairies are totally real!

When we reach the greenhouse, Mom holds the door open for us. Bella and I step inside and set our houses on the workbench. Mom and Nana follow us in.

Mom places the paints and brushes in front of us while Nana fills a few bowls with water.

I have to admit, I wish I had made a fairy house last year, Nana says.

Me too, Mom sighs.

Well, we still need to make furniture, Bella says. If youd like to, you could help us with thatmaybe this afternoon?

Moms eyes light up. Id love to design furniture with you.

Count me in! Nana exclaims. Then she adds, Is there anything else you need before we go?

I look at the supplies on the workbench. I think we have everything we need, I reply.

Mom pulls on a pair of gardening gloves. Your nana and I are going to work in the garden for a while. We want to pick some peas and blueberries for lunch. If you need help, just come and get us.

Nana grabs a few baskets from a nearby shelf and follows Mom out the door. Have fun, girls, she calls over her shoulder.

Bye, Bella and I say in unison. We glance at each other and smile. Were in for some good luck today!

I remove a folded-up piece of paper from my pocket. Its a drawing of what I want my fairy house to look like. Im going to paint horizontal (left to right) rainbows on the walls. The roof and window shutters will be glittery pink.

I glance over at Bellas sketch. Her walls and roof are going to be rainbows, too. But hers will be vertical (up and down) rainbows. Only her window shutters will be glittery pink.

I select a fat brush, dip it into the purple paint, and draw a stripe along the bottom of my house.

Bella starts with red paint. She draws a thick line along the left side of her house.

For the next twenty minutes, Bella and I carefully paint rainbows all over our houses. We finish with the glittery pink paint.

I cant wait to put my house in the garden! Bella exclaims.

I nod my head in agreement. While we wait for the paint to dry, lets check on Mom and Nana. Maybe we can sneak some blueberries and peas before lunch.

When we reach the garden, Mom is busy picking blueberries. Nana is watering the tomato plants.

Do you girls need help? Mom asks when she sees us.

Bella shakes her head. Nope, were all done.

I look over at Nana. Do you need any help?

That would be wonderful, Nana says. Can you please water the rest of the tomato plants for me?

Id be happy to, I say, taking the hose from her. She points to the plants that still need water.

Ill be back soon, Nana says. I just need to hang up the wet laundry. She heads down the hill towards the cottage.

Bella walks over to join Mom. Do you need any help?

Yes, please, Mom says gratefully. I need more peas, but I cant reach the ones in the middle of the garden.

Sure thing, Bella says. She takes an empty basket and steps into the garden. Shes careful not to crush any plants.

As she bends over to pick a pea, she lets out a surprised shriek. Then she jumps up and starts waving her arms wildly in the air. A second later, she dashes out of the garden, right into Moms open arms and begins to sob.

I drop the hose and rush over to them. I have no idea what just happened.

Bella, are you okay? I ask with concern. I rub her back soothingly.

I... saw... a... bee, Bella says between sobs. I want to go inside. Please, lets go inside right now, she begs Mom.

Mom gently pulls Bella away from her so she can look her in the eyes. I know the bee startled you, but imagine being that little bee. Shes the size of your finger nail. Im sure you scared her way more than she scared you. Shes probably at home right now telling all her friends that she saw a big, scary giant.

A tiny smile appears on Bellas face.

Why dont we have a snack, Mom suggests, grabbing a handful of blueberries from her basket.

I pop a big blueberry into my mouth. Mmm, juicy.

Bella pops a blueberry into her mouth, too. Nanas blueberries are always the best! she exclaims.

Mom wraps her arms around us. Girls, do you know that bees are one of the hardest working insects in the world? And that the hardest working bees are females?

The only things I know about bees are they make honey, and they sting us, I answer honestly.

Do you know how the bees make honey? Mom asks.

I shrug my shoulders. I actually have no idea.

Well, bees have special tongues, like straws, Mom says. They fly from flower to flower sipping nectar. Nectar is a sugary liquid found in flowers. The bees have a special tummy that stores the nectar. Sometimes they need to fly to one hundred flowers before their nectar tummies are full.