At last it feels like Spring again! Here is a fun springtime read for the aspiring bee-keeper or bear in your life 🙂

Please Please the Bees (2017, Albert Whitman & Company, Picture Book)

From the Publisher:

Benedict has a pretty sweet life for a bear. Every morning the bees leave a jar of honey on his doorstep, and every day he has honey for breakfast and honey in his tea. It’s an important part of his day. But all that changes when the bees go on strike. Now it’s up to Benedict to listen to the bees, and he realizes there’s a lot more he could be doing to help them. So he fixes up the hive and learns to be a better beekeeper. Will the bees be pleased?

Review:

Please Please the Bees, written and illustrated by Gerald Kelley, is a cute reminder for children to both take care of nature, and not take others for granted. Benedict learns his lesson as the bees have basically been doing everything to keep him supplied with honey and he has done nothing in return. Parents might appreciate the message for their children, though whether children will make the connection between Benedict and the bees and their own relationship with their parents remains to be seen.

The title might lead one to think there will be more word play throughout, but the text is generally very straightforward, which was slightly disappointing. Overall this is a wonderfully illustrated, easy read that will be enjoyed by many young readers and is a perfect Spring-themed read.

3.5 stars

Please Please the Bees hits shelves April 11, 2017

Thank you to Albert and Whitman and Company for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.