Published by Little Tiger Press, 2016.

Bee is a book remarkable for its richness: the richness of its illustrations, words, content and production quality. Britta Teckentrup is an exceptional illustrator and her illustrations for Bee are wonderfully textured, beautifully detailed and full of colour and life. There’s so much to look at and marvel at on each page. She captures nature’s diversity and vibrancy in every scene.

The pages are die cut; a hexagon has been cut out from each page. The bee is visible through this cut-out and it frames this tiny, but vital, creature as she flies across each page. The shape is also a nice allusion to honeycomb.

The text, by Patricia Hegarty, is written in verse and the rhymes add to the read-aloud appeal. The range of vocabulary is impressive and the language is evocative and beautiful.

Water trickles, bubbles and weaves,

A weeping willow trails its leaves.

The book itself gives us a wonderful insight into the life and work of a bee. Children will learn about pollination: how bees are attracted to flowers by their colour and perfume; about the transfer of pollen from plant to plant; and about the work of the hive. Crucially, they will come to understand the amazing life-giving power of bees and how vital they are to our planet’s survival.

Yet again, I have been bowled over by Britta Teckentrup. This is a stunning book and one which we will treasure and enjoy for years.

Rating: 💙💙💙💙💙

Suitable for children aged 2+

Thank you to Little Tiger Press for sending me this book to review and to Toppsta for organising the giveaway.