Cover Image: OMFG, BEES!

OMFG, BEES!

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

As a beekeeper, I read A LOT of books about bees. And I have to say that this one was not only informative but also pretty much the most fun!

I was able to access this title as an advance copy through Netgalley and I devoured it straight away. Not only is the writing cool, the illustrations are KICKASS. I would definitely purchase prints of some of the bees if they were made available!!

I had not read anything by the author Matt Karachi before but after reading this one, I went and looked up the rest of his insanely original books and let me tell ya, I am already thanking my lucky stars that I have more of his writings to read.

I will literally be referring this book to everyone I meet. They will say, hi and I will say, HI I LOVE BEES AND YOU SHOULD TOO SO READ THIS BOOK.

Was this review helpful?

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Chronicle Books for an advanced copy of this book on bees, raw honey, raw language and lots of information and fun.

I am lucky that I worked with a young lady who relaxed from being in retail by spending time in her garden taking care of two maybe three different bee hives. At wintertime her holiday gifts always including honey from her hives, and because I took an interest in her travails with the bees I would get two very large containers, perfect for cooking, or putting on yogurt or toast. After reading this I know a lot more about what her bee friends had to do to get my bland yogurt tasting so good, and I have a better appreciation for what she did taking care of the bees. Plus I know what I am getting her for her birthday cause she is going love this book. OMFG, BEES!: Bees Are So Amazing and You're About to Find Out Why takes a look at the life, importance and humans needs for bees, written in a very earthy way filled with lots of barbs, stinging commentary and a lot of cussing. Author Matt Kracht is both writer and illustrator of this bee primer, sharing information, jokes, and sketches of our pollen bearing buddies.

This is not a book for young children, unless you don't mind them picking up a few words and how to use them in variety of ways. Older kids interested in the subjects and adults with my mentality will enjoy the humor, the information and the layout. Matt Kracht introduces us to the world of bees, the numerous kinds of bees, which I had no idea there were that many different kinds of bees. Some bees lack stingers, some have mandibles that bite and dip poison, some live in the earth and others just bumble along. Illustrations show the different bees and what to look for. Plus Kracht has pictures of what to avoid, like wasps, hornets and especially Murder Hornets. Kracht explains also how to make your backyard friendly to bees, and what to do if one comes a long a bee that is in need of help. Which one might be seeing a lot of as bees really seem to need help.

The title of the book might make this look like a joke, but it is anything but. As funny and as sassy as the writing might be Matt Kracht is very serious about his subject, and wants other to share in not only the love but the appreciation that we should have of bees. Kracht also describes the live of bees, how they pollinate plants, create honey, and can direct other bees to places that would be of interest and use to other bees through dance. The science of this way of giving directions and also of how a nest is created is told well, and clearly. Kracht has a very conversational style, maybe slightly hyper on royal jelly, but this is a book for laymen, and the information is conveyed very well. Also Kracht is very good at detailing the risks that bees face from humans, the environment, and others, while what risks that a lack of bees would have on agriculture and food for humans. Again it is not good.

A very funny, informative book that is perfect for a person who wants to know more about nature but does not know where to start. I know my nephews would like this, one for the nature aspect, the other because of the jokes, but both will learn alot. As will other readers. This is the first that I have read of Matt Kracht, but I see he has quite a few books on nature, and I am looking forward to reading those too.

Was this review helpful?

OMFG, this book was delightful! I learned more than I ever wanted to know about bees, but now that I've learned these facts, I"m glad I know them. The illustrations are whimsical and cute. This book is great for adults or older kids, as there's some gently swearing and such. Would make a great present for your favorite gardener or bee fan. A really informative, fun, and quick read! Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC!

Was this review helpful?

I never thought science could be so hilarious. I laughed out loud many times reading this book, while also learning a ton of bee facts. Thanks to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?

A big thank-you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for giving me a copy of this book for an unbiased review.

4.5/5 - Really liked it.

I recently discovered Matt Kracht and I am so glad I did. His books bring me so much genuine joy and wonder, and "OMFG, BEES!" is the best one yet. I do have to add a disclaimer that I am obsessed with bees, so delighting me with an entire book about them isn't exactly difficult. However, this was one of the best bee books I've ever read (is it weird that I've read multiple? probably). The book is written in Kracht's signature irreverent humorous style, but it's a bit more tame than his bird books. The content is fairly straightforward - explanations of what bees are, how they form their structures and societies, a few examples of different species of bee, and a highlight of why bees are critical to our planet and what we can do to protect them. There were also a few sections that I wasn't as fond of, such as bees in art, because they seemed wedged into what otherwise was a very cohesive story about bees. But I didn't mind - it was still silly and funny, just not my favorite part given how it fit with the rest of the book.

The illustrations are beautiful and the facts about bees are presented in a way that is both interesting and hilarious. I hope Matt Kracht writes more books about my favorite animals (do goats next!).

Was this review helpful?

What a fun, informative little book about bees! Absolutely gorgeous illustrations with so much humor and spunk. We’re in the process of starting our own homestead and bees are one of the creatures we want to raise. This book was exactly what I needed to give me information about everything I need to know about these friendly little world savers.

I’ve always loved bees and acknowledged their importance. Matt Kracht used a combination of wit and details to bring their importance to life. Graphics drew in my attention and the writing kept it.

This was my first book by Matt and I have to admit I’m drawn to his creative writing style, humor, and engaging tone. I’m eager to explore more of his works.

Was this review helpful?

It was illustrated nicely and this is something i can share to my friends too. Bees are often overlooked but this book gives a whole new meaning and appreciation to them.

Was this review helpful?

Kracht does it again. I already own his bird books, and this'll be another to add to my collection.

In what might actually be the best (adult) quick-guide on general bee education out there, Kracht succinctly again folds together his patented humor, nibbles of legitimate education, and zest for nature into a package that's not only hard to deny as an impressive work and top-notch coffee-table material, but wields high re-read potential.

Unlike the birds, who he never fails to proclaim his detestation for (and leads to a great callback or two in this book), he praises the bees here almost all of the way across the board (which you'd surmise from the title); this change of pace was welcome, as he delivers with the sunny optimism of your favorite schoolteacher growing up.

We again get those neat illustrations with snarky notes, breakdowns of bee species and, honest to God, that "F-BOM matrix" should be sold as a poster. I'd love to have it on my wall.

I learned an absolute ton and loved every minute of it. I'll be recommending this at every opportunity. I expect that this will fly (no pun intended) off of the shelves when it hits stores.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the advance read.

Was this review helpful?

This book is an entertaining summary of why bees are wonderful. It includes colorful sketches of different bee families with funny, penciled-in comments and hilarious handwritten graphs and lists. The language is salty, but that is the vibe of Kracht’s humor. If falling in love with these marvels of nature is on your bucket list, this is the book for you.

Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

Was this review helpful?

GREAT book!! I love the illustrations and the style is really funny. I’ve always been fascinated with bees, and this book really just sums up all the information in an informal format. It starts out with “Not-Bees” which is a constant Spring and Summer crisis of “Is it a beeeee??!” “Is it a Not-Bee??!…talks about the murder hornets too. Then Kracht proceeds to walk through all the technical aspects of bee society and the hive. This would be a fantastic gift for a gardener or homesteader with a sense of humor and some sass.

Thank you, NetGalley!

Was this review helpful?

Informative without being boring - enough said! This was a fun read that taught me a lot about pollinators!

Was this review helpful?

This is a wonderfully entertaining book which will tell you most that you wanted to know about bees. The author uses humor from the start which makes you want to read more. I knew a bit about bees prior to reading this but I laughed out loud at times. The illustrations are lovely. I think this book is one that anyone can read and educates them about bees and their importance. It is easy to read and is written for adults. I will be on the look out for this book for myself and would recommend to others.

Was this review helpful?

Do you want to know about bees? If you said no you're wrong and should read this book. Kracht has a way of making learning so enjoyable. The illustrations are on point and include his signature hilarity. If you've read his bird guides you will know about his hatred of birds. However, in this book you will clearly see Kracht's enthusiastic love of bees. This book would be a great gift for any nature lover who also enjoys humor. Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an electronic copy of this book.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book. The watercolor illustrations are beautiful, and it is packed full of fun and interesting information. As a former "person that does not like bees," I think this book is wonderful at describing the importance of bees. There are also some simple suggestions on how anyone can make life just a little bit easier for these busy, efficient creatures. The illustrations excellently portray the cuteness of many bee species. I love the humor and asides. It makes the information feel even more accessible and interesting. I look forward to reading more books by this author. I would recommend this to nature lovers and environmental enthusiasts that like their information with a side of humor.

Was this review helpful?

This book was so funny! I am super appreciative of the time it took to explain what isn't a bee, since I'm always telling people they mean hornets and not bees and I felt very justified in that.

Was this review helpful?

OMFG, this book is absolutely amazing! If you love bees, this book is for you. If you hate bees, this book is also for you because OMFG, BEES will change your mind (or at least make you appreciate them more). I am a huge fan of Kracht's Bird Guides. Unlike birds which he has a great disdain for, Kracht loves bees. His enthusiasm is evident and infectious. I've always been a fan of bees, but Kracht's hilarious zeal made me care even more. This book is full of facts, but it also has Kracht's signature drawings and his humorous commentary. It has ways to help bees, what to do if you need help with bees, and even a section of famous artwork that could benefit from some bee action! I highly recommend this book to everyone! OMFG, BEES will have you head over heels about bees before you're even halfway through the book!

Was this review helpful?

This book is packed full of information about bees and illustrated with beautiful illustrations. Written with humor and an obvious passion for bees this book is great for those who want to learn more about bees and those who are already entranced. It is well researched and chock full of information, but balanced with snarky asides and stunning artwork keeping it fun and lively to read.

Was this review helpful?

This marvelous book is chock-full of happy drawings of bees, easy to understand information and descriptions of bees, and is just generally really excited about bees.

But don't buy it for your kids unless you want to encourage them to cuss like sailors.

But really, why shouldn't adults get to have a fun book that's a delight to the eyes, educational, and totally pottymouthed? That's right! There's no reason not to treat yourself to this celebration of bees! OMFG indeed!

My favorite chapter? "Great Paintings, if They Had Put Bees in Them". The author gleefully tears into the pretentiousness of a handful of classic paintings... and yes, adds bees to make the artwork really pop. What the actual #%$*!

My thanks to author Matt Kracht, Chronicle Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital advance review copy of this book. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Was this review helpful?

OMFG, BEES! Bees Are So Amazing and You're About to Find Out Why
by Matt Kracht

Thank you to @NetGalley and @ChronicleBooks for this little buzzer. This not quite NSFW guide to bees is a fun and informative read. The illustrations are lovely watercolors with captions that fit this fun and slightly weird book (there is a small section dedicated to adding bees to famous paintings). If you are interested in reading, gardening, or just having funky conversation starters, this book would do well on most coffee tables. It would also be an excellent gift for the friend that wants or has an apiary, or a home warming, or a garden party (no one wants your oversized uncooked zucchini, KEVIN)

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley, Matt Kracht and Chronicle Books for the ARC of OMFG, BEES!. This is my personal review.
This book was amazing and full of so much information on bees. Bees are a vital part of all our lives and now I am so much more knowledgeable about them. It was packed with facts about bees in a way that was so easy to understand.
The pictures of the bees were eye opening. Matt Kracht did a great job of making bees something we all need. He gave information in a way that made it fun to learn about bees.

Was this review helpful?