The Adventures of Maya the Bee

The Adventures of Maya the Bee is a German book written by Waldemar Bonsels and published in 1912. The book has been published in many other languages and adapted into different media. The first American edition was published in 1922 by Thomas Seltzer and illustrated by Homer Boss. The latter's wife Adele Szold-Seltzer (1876-1940), the daughter of Benjamin Szold and younger sister of Henrietta Szold, was the translator. The stories revolve around a little bee named Maya and her friends Willy the bee, Flip the grasshopper (referred to as Maja, Willi and Philip respectively in some versions), Miss Cassandra (Maya's teacher), and many other insects and other creatures. The book depicts Maya's development from an adventurous youngster to a responsible adult member of bee society.