What people are saying. . .

This is a fabulous book for young children curious about bees and nature!
The world of bees and beekeeping is so complex, but this book does a wonderful job
of explaining accurately the essence of bees and what happens both inside and outside the hive.
I wish I had this book when my son was younger!
– Hanna Bäckmo, Award-winning beekeeper at Hanna's Bees, Cork Ireland 

Anna McQuinn's Lola books are consistently age-appropriate and enjoyable.
Lola is learning about bees, so she and her mom visit Zora, mom's friend...
The city setting is unique compared to other picture books about pollinators and gardening...
An excellent addition to early literacy collections or ages 2-6.
– Alondra on Goodreads

I am loving this series so much!
This picture story book
is one of the most perfect books to introduce to your kid about bees and how their world functions.

I just love how the author and the artist have perfectly blended all the required information and their realistic yummy versions of bees/their honey combs/their kingdom/information on their stings and how we can protect ourselves from them.

I appreciate the fact that this book explains well when bees sting if they must!
The kids will know why bees are the way they are and from where we get the honey on our tables from.

Love the illustrations so much!
– Reading Tamishly on Goodreads

We are big Lola fans in our house!
My daughter always wants to be her!

...Lola meets the bees is such a wonderfully written, illustrated and informative book.

It explains to the young reader in an accessible where bees live, how to look after them, the importance of them and the dangers of them.

There is also a super handy adult part at the beginning of the book in case you get a bee sting and what you should do.
– Maya on Goodreads

... I feel like it was written perfectly for children.
It held their attention and
they were sad the book
was already over.
They want to read more
Lola books!
– Lauren on Goodreads

• Bees! Raised in hives on a rooftop in town! Who knew? We learn about the work bees do and why we need them while also learning that all bees are not raised in meadows or very large backyards.
  The illustrations by Rosalind Beardshaw are delightful, imaginative, clear, and colorful.
  Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to anyone, and even to a school or teacher or your public library!
  – Jan on Goodreads
  

"Lola Meets the Bees is a delightful addition to the Lola Reads series, offering a charming and educational journey into the world of urban beekeeping. In this ninth installment, Lulu's curiosity takes center stage as she explores the importance of bees and their role in our ecosystem.

The simplicity of the narrative is its strength, making it an ideal read for young audiences.
Lulu's adventure with her mother's friend Zora unfolds with a perfect blend of warmth and information.
The book succeeds in breaking down complex concepts like pollination and the honey-making process into easily digestible nuggets of knowledge. The special dance of honey bees becomes a captivating dance of words on the page.

The setting of urban beekeeping adds a unique and contemporary touch to the story, making it relatable for children growing up in city environments. The rooftop hives on Zora's apartment building provide a backdrop that effortlessly combines urban living with the natural world.

The illustrations complement the narrative beautifully, bringing Lulu's world and the bees to life with vibrant colors and engaging visuals. The inclusion of Lulu creating her own garden to attract bees adds a wonderful hands-on element, encouraging young readers to connect with and appreciate nature in their own way.

Lulu Meets the Bees stands out as a valuable tool for introducing ecological concepts to children.
It seamlessly weaves environmental awareness into Lulu's inquisitive nature, promoting a sense of responsibility towards the world around us...

Overall, Lulu Meets the Bees is a sweet and accessible read that educates without feeling didactic.
It's a buzz-worthy addition to any young reader's collection. Queenie Clem on Goodreads

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Longer  and more indepth Reviews

I am an avid fan of this endearing character and have already reviewed several books about her previous everyday adventures. The author and illustrator always manage to convey her quiet, considerate personality along with her thoughtfulness...

Once they are sitting in the flower filled garden, Lulu watches the bees with interest because she knows that they are spreading pollen. I like the way that the following double page spread pulls back the reader’s view and we realise that it is a roof top garden of a house in a densely built up area. Other picture books about bees and gardens tend to portray a more rural landscape which is not the experience of many children:
‘
The city is a great place for bees.
There are lots of gardens and parks to visit’.

Zora explains the complicated and impressive world of bees and how they work together to bring pollen and nectar back to the hives. Lulu is dressed in a special protective suit so that she can look inside the hives safely. Once they are close enough, we can share her excitement at investigating the hexagonal cells containing baby bee larvae and honey, and look in awe at the huge queen at the centre. She learns about how the honey is made and stored and later enjoys it spread on some bread.

Lulu is inspired by her fascinating experience and wants to know how she can help to encourage more bees. Once her mother comes to collect her, she is ready with some seeds so that she can create a small wild place of her own. Once again, she is shown doing all the digging and planting on her own.
Lulu is always a child with agency who is encouraged to carry out her plans. By the end of the summer, her flowers have flourished and plenty of bees are visiting.

I strongly recommend this delightful and informative picture book which will be a great resource to use in the classroom to reinforce the importance of bees in our environment. Hopefully it will encourage children to plant more flowers and to observe how these precious insects contribute to the environment.
– Karen Argent, The Letterpress Project

Lulu is a very curious little girl and is endlessly fascinated by the world around her. Eager to learn about bees, she makes a trip to see Mummy’s friend- Zora the beekeeper!

The simple wonders of nature come to life throughout this picturebook, full of beautifully rendered illustrations of the abundance of plant life and activity that can thrive in an urban garden. I particularly enjoyed the fact that Zora’s beehives were on a rooftop in the middle of a busy city. Emphasis is placed on the green spaces that can often go unnoticed amidst the concrete.
A key takeaway of the book is the importance of providing wild spaces for bees to pollinate.
Readers with small or minimal garden space will see that “wilding” is possible no matter where they live, and hopefully be inspired to help the bees by planting some seeds of their own!
– Children's Books Ireland

Full of curiosity, young Lulu is excited when she accompanies her mum to visit her friend, a beekeeper who lives in the city...
A lovely way for young children to learn some basic information about bees, Anna McQuinn’s text together with Rosalind Beardshaw’s scenes of the visit to a beekeeper are an example of narrative non-fiction for preschool children at its best.
– Jill Bennet, Red Reading Hub