Review Detail

THE BUMBLEBEE GARDEN is a sweet picture book that teaches about bees. The story follows a grandfather and young boy who are spending time with each other while noticing the bees. At each step along the way, the boy learns something about bees, such as that they have a thick coat to keep them warm - just like Ben does. The backmatter includes a lifecycle of queen bumblebees.

What I loved: The book draws apt comparisons between the bumblebees and the young boy and his sister, really bringing the bees to life for little ones. Information about bees is presented in a very approachable way, showing the wonder of bees to little ones with facts about how they grow, collect pollen, and more. The backmatter adds to the educational content with an easy to view cycle, reiterating the things children learned along the way.

The illustrations are lush and detailed, bringing the scenes to life with key close-ups on the realistic-looking bumblebees so that children can see for themselves what is happening at each step. The fictional story works well for young readers who prefer stories to non-fiction books, but the educational content is still present throughout. The font is large and clear, making it easy to read aloud.

What left me wanting more: The simplicity of the story and level of content would make this work well for toddlers and preschoolers; however, the length of text on each page spread may be better suited to more patient readers. That being said, children who love to learn and don't mind sitting with a page will find plenty to visually explore as the story is read to them.

Final verdict: THE BUMBLEBEE GARDEN is a sweet picture book about a grandfather and young boy exploring the world and learning about bumblebees - and all the things we have in common.