Manchester City Council

Schools, education and childcare Getting your child ready for school

Free book, audiobook, and learning resources

As part of our work with families, we’ve produced a free children’s book about a hive of bees in Manchester who learn the importance of friendship.

In the story, ‘Billie Bee and the secret glue that holds Manchester together’ we see what happens when a group of bees are brought to their knees when they turn their back on a friend. Can the hive survive, and what exactly is the secret glue that holds Manchester together?

Free copies of the book will be handed out at community events, and copies will be available to borrow from any Manchester library.

You can download the book and also enjoy the free audiobook.

We have some fun activity sheets available to print, to help bring the story to life for little ones. Download Billie Bee activity sheets.