I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thought the book was an okay read. The pictures were great. While I think youngsters will identify with wanting to try things on their own, I felt the book felt a little flat in some ways. With the disappearing of the bees, there could have been more of a message on how to help that problem.

This book celebrates relationships, the learning that happens when we spend time with our family, and bees!

Loved this story and the various ties to facts about bees. The illustrations were gorgeous as well. Would be a great addition in a classroom.

After reading this story I wished that I could be apart of the world that Henry lived in. The relationship that Henry has with his book is touching and real. The way Aunt Lilla teaches Henry about the way of the bees is a beautiful look at how older generations can teach younger generations about the importance of protecting and caring for nature. I love how much information the text gives about bees. The authors note in the back of the book shares that he has a love of bees and wanted to share that love with readers. The illustrations are truly stunning and show the details of the bees. I truly enjoyed reading this amazing book.

The King of Bees is that rare book that come along every once-in-a-while and calms the soul by using a combination of elements that sit "just right" on the pages. The story is almost lyrical at times and the illustrations are muted but detailed in a way that entangles with the story creating a collective voice. Additionally, this story offers some insights into bees and is an excellent testament to the ways humans and other-than-humans need each other for survival. A humbling, brilliant story that I will read again and again. This story feel like home.

As I was reading The King of Bees, I couldn't wait to study bees again with my classroom so that I could share this book. How many times have children asked, "Can't I try?" They want to learn so badly. I think that students and teachers alike will connect with this book. There are many teaching connections and opportunities present in the pages of this beautiful story.

The King of Bees is as exquisite of a children’s book as I have ever seen. Just doing a picture walk before reading is a delight for the eyes. The pastel illustrations are easy on the eyes but also draw the reader in to look closer at the expressions of the characters as well as the details in the setting.

Just as lovely is the soft touch of the text. Even without reading the author’s note, it is clear he has an appreciation for bees and wants to convey that to reader. There is much information in this book on bees, told in just a way to encourage others to appreciate and kindly treat these pollinators.

I also enjoyed the underlying story of the boy and his aunt. While not wealthy, they are nature rich and which comes across in book. It is a touching story of the bond between a child and an adult that extends to the world of bees. While I received a digital copy of this book, I feel that the print copy would be even more beautiful.

This is an endearing story of a boy who helps with grandma with the bees on her property. He wonders why there is no king bee, and sets about becoming said king. The story is quite lovely, but a little slow for my personal taste. But having said that, we need more bee books, as we need to grow the population of bees.

This is a beautifully illustrated book written by Lester L. Laminack and illustrated by Jim LaMarche. It is a sweet story of a little boy who wants to help his aunt take care of her bees as well as learn how to bee speak. The text is quite lyrical and the story is told in a way that the reader of listener will be able to learn about bees, how they help humans and plants as well as the importance of protecting them. The author includes a website in the note at the end to learn more about honeybees. I can see this book being used in a late primary/early junior classroom when learning about bees, plants and pollination as well as protecting species. It is also just a nice story to read for enjoyment. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

This is a delightful tale of caring, taking responsibility, and bee conservation.

Henry lives in South Carolina Lowcountry with his aunt Lilla. She owns a small farm and sustains it by selling honey and eggs. She dons her protective bee suit, with a hat that has a net to protect her face from stings, and goes out to check on her bees' activies. She allows Henry to tote the smoker which is needed to calm the bees while she checks the bee hive boxes for any accumulation of their sweet honey.

She directs Henry to stay a good way back and sit on a stump while she tends to the bee sanctuary. She talks to the sister bees in a quiet, encouraging voice and explains to her little nephew all about bee behaviours and their habits. He listens very closely because Henry is fascinated with these magnificent busy, buzzing insects.

Although he knows he is yet too small to handle the bees himself he decides to sneak away one day and encounter the bees all on his own during swarm season. He attires himself with his aunt's oversized beekeeping suit and accidentally spills a bottle of "bee drops"down the front. The fragrance of these special drops attract a swarm of bees to Henry. They eagerly follow him home intoxicated by the the smell. Oh my!

Will Henry escape unharmed? How will these bees be returned to their rightful bee hive boxes? Luckily his aunt Lilla who is a seasoned apiarist saves the day.

The water-colour and ink illustrations are truly gorgeous. They are so realistic and the colour pallet is soft and inviting. They are so beautiful that they could stand all on their own but when added to the text together they make an enriched dynamic duo.

The story is educational and kids will love to learn how bees are harboured, protected and vital to our world's ecosystem. I highly recommend this book.

Considering the bad time bees are having over the past many years, this is a nice story to maybe gets kids interested in bee keeping in the future! I liked that the little boy and his aunt kept bees and that the little guy learned to help take care of them. Good story for young kids. The illustrations were lovely and sunny bright!

There is an otherworldliness to this book, set in the Carolinas between the sea and the land, where the fresh water mixes with salt. Henry is living with his Aunt Lilla, who keeps bees, and rather than being afraid, he feels he can talk to them, and do their dance, to tell them where to go.

It is a dreamtime sort of story. And it is based on the authors own time with his grandmother, who did not keep bees, but who had bees in her garden.

This picture below, where the boy is trying to lure the bees to their new house, and instead they follow him to the porch where he is taking a nap, shows just how unafraid he is.

Lovely book about being one with nature, and respecting it as well. Plus, kids get to learn about bees. :)

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Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.