Akeem Keeps Bees! Format: Hardback - Paper Over Boards

New York Public Library's Best Books of 2025

Young readers will learn the basics of beekeeping with this vibrantly illustrated book that takes place on the Sankofa Farms apiary.

Told from Akeem's perspective, Akeem Keeps Bees! begins with the arrival and installation of a package of bees and follows Akeem and his Dad throughout the year as they inspect the hive, find the queen, deal with a swarm, harvest honey, and prepare for winter. 

Every part of the process is illustrated for young readers, teaching them the special role that bees play on a farm. The author, Kamal Bell, is a leading voice among Black farmers educating and inspiring Black youth about farming and beekeeping. Perfect for children ages 6 through 10.

Kamal Bell is the author of Akeem Keeps Bees and the founder of Sankofa Farms LLC, a 12-acre regenerative farm dedicated to eliminating food deserts in urban and rural communities. Through the Sankofa Farms Agricultural Academy, he empowers young Black men with agriculture-based STEM education and partners with community organizations to deliver fresh, healthy produce to families in need. The farm has been featured in Forbes, Southern Living, The News and Observer, Earth Eats, and ABC News. A passionate public speaker and advocate for food justice, Kamal regularly shares his work building a future rooted in education, empowerment, and sustainability at schools, conferences, and community events. He lives with his wife and four children in Durham, North Carolina.