Today, I am showcasing a book that my entire family loves. It really does have something for everyone – stories, cool facts and incredible illustrations. The Secret Life of Bees by Moira Butterfield and Vivian Mineker is one of those books that you want to keep coming back to, time and time again.
We are introduced to Buzzwing the honeybee who is going to divulge all the top secrets of bees, from bee anatomy to their sense of smell and dance moves, to different myths and folklore from around the world.
Vivian’s illustrations bring the facts and stories to life. We loved her honeycomb patterns, and my daughter especially liked the annotated anatomy of a bee, pointing out the different features, and also tracing her finger along the lines of the buzzing bees.
Each page of this book offers you a different glimpse into the world of bees, which keeps you excited to turn the page. We particularly liked seeing inside the hive and also learning about what attracts bees to flowers.
There are lots of different ways to engage with the book, like Buzzwing asking you to spot a butterfly, which my daughter loved. Alongside all of the fun facts, stories and interactive features, we are reminded why bees are important to humans and tips for making our own environment welcoming to bees. One of our favourite pages was WANTED! Learning about all the creatures bees never want to encounter.
We spent the most time reading the folklore stories from around the world – they are brilliant! Her favourites were How Elephants Got Their Trunks, a bee tale from Thailand and The Lady of the Moon, a tree tale from Australia.
The Secret Life of Bees by Moira Butterfield and Vivian Mineker is a beautifully illustrated, magical guide that will leave you buzzing about bees. We loved the delightful blend of facts, natural history, and fantasy. The Secret Life of Bees is a book we will delight in re-reading for years and years to come!
Published by Quarto, 20 April 2021
I am very grateful to the publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. This voluntary review contains my honest opinion.
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