The Secret Life of Bees

Where do bees go in winter? How do bees communicate? What do beekeepers do? This richly illustrated books covers many topics about bees through the narration of Buzzwing the bee, who gives readers a bee’s eye view of life. Interspersed with the nonfiction pages are pages featuring bee folklore and stories from many times and cultures. The illustrations are clear and accurate but also artful. This is not a book to read in one sitting but a beautiful and educational gem to dip into again and again. Perfect for the classroom and would be equally welcome for parents and their kids.

That's one of the most educating book about bees I've read! So simple, yet so informative.

I'm definitely getting this book to my friends kids!

I wish there were more books like this, it's not only informative, but contains tales from different parts of the world that are related to bees, which means that it's also diverse!

Can't praise it enough!

Thanks for the chance to read and review this book.

Foremost, I think that this is a beautifully designed book. The illustrations are very appealing. The book is about bees (go figure) and includes a loooot of information, as well as engaging seek and finds, etc.

I really enjoyed the depictions in "Be a Bee Friend" which also show how to help bees out. I think this book was really great in the info that it covered and also the illustrations being quite good.

One of the bits of feedback I can provide, if it is warranted, is that I thought in the back of my mind while reading some of this that some of the pages are a bit overwhelmed with text. This may be off-putting to some young readers or it could make no difference. Ultimately, that's just my only critique..

A fun book just full of facts about bees. From science to history, and everything in between these pages are brimming with cute illustrations and a ton of facts! There is also a seek and find on each page!

My kids (3 and 5) and I all loved this book. The beautiful color illustrations drew us in and we loved the tales included from all over the world. The text was simple yet informative and engaging. I would definitely recommend this book!

Review to come April 11 to blog/goodreads/etc..

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

I just love bees, they are cute and adorable, and I was definitely curious if I could learn even more about these little critters. Plus, come on, look at that cover, it just makes you want to pick up the book and read it!

In this book we follow the wonderfully named Buzzwing as she tells us all about the world of honeybees (and also some other bees). I really liked that we had a protagonist, a guide in the world and her name was also adorable (and so punny), it definitely made it more personal. I had fun seeing what Buzzwing had to show us, had to tell us. A lot of things I already knew, but there were new things for me. I also loved the parts about the beekeeper and what they do for the hive, how they help the hive. I still think it is a cool job to have, though not one for me. I like bees, but not that many bees at once.

We also learn what we can do for bees, and I am definitely going be throwing that bee bomb thingie I got last year (too late to still throw it) in my garden somewhere. Plus hope that all my plants I got last year will bloom and help out the bees.

Oh, and I cannot forget that in almost all the pages Buzzwing also tells you to look for a certain animal (or animals if it is a group). From cheeky monkeys to hungry birds. Can you find them all?

There are also stories about bees, while they were a nice addition, I don't know, I got a bit bored of them and found myself skipping them. I just wanted to find out real facts about bees.

The art is incredibly cute and I just love the bees and the animals around them were drawn. It made me want to reach out and hug a bee.

All in all, highly recommended!

I buzzzzzed right through this book!

Such an informative and diverse book about bees! The awesome illustrations help bring to life these bees and their importance in our environment. Now more than ever we need to be educating the younger generations that if we have no bees, we have nothing.

I love the folklore and bee facts that are interspersed throughout the book, it truly shows the importance job that bees do all over the world!

This book and it's guide Buzzwing are both 5 stars for sure!

Children will enjoy learning more about bees in this title. Buzzwing the honey bee is their guide to many things bee related. Buzzy shares facts about bees’ anatomy, their jobs, how honey comes to be, and their homes, for example. There are also stories in the book; these include a tale from ancient Greece and others from India India and Thailand, among others.

This book has enticing illustrations. They are bright and colorful. In some of these, children are asked to find something as, for example, ladybugs.

Some young children learn to fear bees at a young age. Spending time with this book should help to lessen fear and to intrigue. I can imagine some kids will be looking for bees after spending time with this title. All in all, this is a very appealing book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Every time I set up a unit study for Mini I wish there was that one perfect book I could use for the chosen theme. Something that combines science with folklore or say geography with a few activities. Add in some related mythology for a good measure. Having a bunch of books for everything is fun and keeps the kid super interested but imagine having that one book. My wishful thinking has taken the form of this book and manifested. Can you believe it?⁣
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I haven't stopped admiring the beauty of this title ever since I found it. A comprehensive bee book that is gorgeously illustrated, funny and smart in its execution. You follow the Buzzwing the bee on an guided tour of its kingdom. You get to understand the structure of the hive, learn about the geographical differences and there's a section on honey too. Then there are bee stories from various parts of the world that would make an fiction lovers heart flip.⁣
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Another great title that has been a joy to read.⁣
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This book was so informative, even for an adult like me, and I can only imagine how much knowledge children could gather from it. I think the author did an amazing job at organizing all of the info, both conceptually and graphically, and that the illustrator also did a brilliant job. I think this is the kind of informative book both little kids and older kids could enjoy. The younger ones I think would love to look at all the details of the illustrations and I'm sure they'd learn something too, and the older ones would find a fun and great way to learn everything about bees.

This is a great book to introduce children to bees! I would love to read it with my 3-year-old granddaughter, who has a fascination and possible fear of bees for some reason. I don't want her to be afraid of any bees, bugs, or animals but to learn about them and treat them with respect. The illustrations in the book are beautiful and colorful, and on some pages there are even hidden pictures for kids to find. There is so much factual information and I learned a lot, such as different types of bees, how honey is made, and the anatomy of a bee. Kids can also learn how to be safe around bees, why honey is good for them, and how to be a friend to the bees! Interspersed throughout the book are tales about bees from different countries... I kind of skimmed over those because I care more about the facts, but others might enjoy them.

We did a bee unit in our homeschool before COVID, including visiting a local beekeeper, and it was one of my favorite things we studied (even though I’m terrified of real bees!) and this was a nice refresher. I liked the illustrations, and the “find X on this page” I also really liked the bee themed mythology.

This book was so informative! The illustrations and story will definitely help children stay engaged.

As a primary school teacher, I saw this book and the description caught my eye as a brilliant book for the summer and teaching Outdoor Learning /Forest Schools. Teaching about Bees and their impact on the world around us is something that I feel is important for the next generation.

This book is perfect for building the curiosity of children and giving them information to explore Bees, along with beautiful illustrations for those with lower ability reading skills.

I've already got this book on the too buy list at work and ready to inspire and build curiosity about our wildlife! Thank you for the opportunity to read this book!

Wow! This book is packed with facts about bees, honey, and hives, told through a brilliant and unique combination of endearing illustrations and well-thought-out text in the form of short stories, poems, and more.

Despite being scared of bees, I grabbed this book! Bees are so helpful and interesting to learn about, why not learn a bit more about them from a delightful picture book?

This colourful, beautifully illustrated book is a real hidden gem! A must read, if I might add. Not only is it an educational book, but it packs in some fun too! The first page opens up to a little "Where's Waldo" section where you're helping the bee find his mouse friend!

The entire book is told in a more story format - it feels like fiction but is definitely non-fiction. I really enjoyed that aspect because learning can be such a bore! Having the story so engaging and colourful is just what some young readers need. I think this is a great book for those picky readers that despite non-fiction!

Four out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, words & pictures and Quarto Publishing Group for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

The first thing that came to my mind when I saw this book is that the illustrations are absolutely gorgeous. The colours are so bright and vivid that you do feel as if you've been magically transported to a spring meadow full of flowers.

But the book isn't just beautiful. It is also very informative, covering a variety of topics related to these hardworking animals: their anatomy, the structure of a hive, different types of bees, the way bees use dance for communication, honey-making, beekeeping, and many others. All of this is combined with tales from all over the world to engage children and show how universal our interest in bees is across different cultures.

This book would make a great teaching resource for elementary school or homeschooling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for the review copy provided in exchange foran honest opinion.

What an eclectic, diverse book about bees! This book contains scientific information, poems, and tales about bees from around the world. The illustrations are gorgeous and children will learn so much about the impact bees have on the world. I would recommend this for kids at least 5 years old as it has a lot of information.

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for providing this ARC.

A truly wonderful book about all you need to know about Bees ..with well crafted beautiful illustrations, facts and even folk atkes which are from all over the world are well spaced out throughout the book.
A bee named Buzzwing tells us about her world...the way it's been described it doesn't feel overwhelming or boring at all.
All topics which can be associated with bees are covered here like types of bees, anatomy, structure of hive, honey making process and even beekeeping. These are described in great depth.
There are also activities where kids are asked to find a hidden animals on that page.
Not only my daughter but even I thoroughly enjoyed this book. . There were so many things which wasn't aware of!
Thank you Netgalley and Quatro publishing group for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

There is so much to know about bees and this book does an amazing job of teaching us all about these creatures. I love the art, the playful nature of the information (there is a bee who tells you all about the life of bees), and the art.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

The Secret Life of Bees is an absolutely adorable children's book that is both educational and fun.
In this book we meet Buzzwing who guides us through the book, educating us on different things such as types of bees, types of honey, bee homes, bee predators and much much more.
I found this book fascinating and learnt afew things I didn't already know too.
I loved the folk tales that were told in this book too and think children will really enjoy reading them or being read them.
This is a must have book for all shelves and I will be getting myself a physical copy as soon as I can.

I cannot tell you how much I loved these illustrations! Beyond adorable and so detailed!
The information was so fun to read with my third-oldest, who is a Wild Kratts devotee! Can't wait to purchase this for our home library!

Title: Secret Life of Bees
Author: Moira Butterfield
Illustrator: Vivian Mineker
Genre: Children’s Non-Fiction
Pages: 48
Publication Date: 5/11/2021

The Secret Life of Bees is a delightful non-fiction children’s book geared at ages 5-10. The book is a bit of a variety book covering multiple topics about bees like different types, where they live, how hives function and what bees do during the winter.

Cover: The cover is colorful and inviting.

Age Appropriate: This children’s non-fiction book has multiple sentences per page meaning it would be more appropriate for slightly older children (school age). Younger children may enjoy some of the book if they had an adult to explain to them.

Narrative: The book covers multiple topics. I learned a ton from this children’s non-fiction book like why beekeeper’s wear white (it soothes the bees) and that smoke is calming to the bees. I also enjoyed that there were little activities for small readers on each page like to find an illustrated lizard.

Representation: I loved that the author decided to incorporate folklore into the book and talk about how bees influenced different cultures such as Thai, Aboriginal and India.

Illustrations: The illustrations in this book are gorgeous with the bees being a vibrant black and yellow. I did find that there was a lot of text on every page. I would have loved to see the book be a couple pages longer and have better text/illustration balance.

I would strongly recommend this book for the small science lover in your life and for classroom libraries. If you end up reading it to a child, I guarantee you will learn some fun facts about bees.

ARC provided to me by words & pictures, via Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review.

This book is brilliant in its simplicity, and very educational. Perfect for the classroom and school library. I loved this, as did my children.

Cute illustrations made me choose this book, about one of world's animals that I am scared to getting to close to. With stories around the world I've never heard before about how people see bees, makes this book way more interesting. Not to mention that these insects that gave us the good, yummy and healthy honey are such a mystery to most of us, mostly to kids who love the dripping sweets of the bees' work. A good book to own in your library, in case the children are curious enough to ask about this not-always-yellow being.

Such a cute book about bees! It's a little long for my babies at this time but we'll definitely revisit it in the future. One thing that stood out the most to me besides the beautiful illustrations was the diversity in the characters throughout the book. That is something I really look for when selecting books for my children to read.

This was a gorgeous book filled with lots of facts about bees. But it was much longer and more detailed than I expected. So, I wouldn’t recommend for very young children.

This non-fiction book on bees comes with beautiful illustrations and is great for all ages to learn more about bees. While the language isn't too difficult, it does read like a textbook so younger kids may need an adult to help guide them, but it includes fun activities like finding hidden images on the page that kids would definitely appreciate. In addition to learning facts about bees, it also includes fun stories like a Greek myth about how honeybees got their color. Overall, this short book is packed with interesting information on the lives of bees, fun tales, and a few activities for kids interspersed throughout! I would definitely recommend this to people of all ages looking to learn more about the interesting lives of bees.