Betsy Buglove Saves the Bees by Catherine Jacob and Lucy Fleming

Betsy Buglove adores going outside and getting muddy. Her favourite thing in the garden is to look for insects and loves looking at snails and earthworms and grasshoppers and beetles. When Betsy receives a magical magnifying glass in the post, she can suddenly hear everything that her insect friends are saying.

A bee tells Betsy that Stan next door wants his garden dug up and concreted so that he can ride his bike. The bees will lose the flowerbeds where they gather pollen and the grass and trees that they call home. Betsy takes up the case and bargains with Stan …but Stan isn’t to be easily won over. It’s only when Betsy discovers his secret that Stan begins to listen to the plight of the insects.

This delightful tale gives children a bee’s eye look at how human interference with the natural world affects insects. It gently teaches about the role that insects, and especially bees, play in food production. What I liked about the story was that it explored the reasons why people close their eyes to their role in this destruction, and how this begins in childhood. When Stan explains his true feelings about insects it gives children a chance to rethink their own ideas without feeling judged or belittled. Betsy is a lovely role-model but Stan is big enough to give the bees a second chance and this makes him an equally valuable character.

The story is book-ended with two fact pages about different insects. These neat bits of trivia will draw kids in and encourage them to look at their tiny friends with respect and awe.

My favourite illustrations are the ones that get close-up with the flowers and show the garden through the insects’ eyes.

Fun, factual and filled with ideas about how we can help our insect friends. This would make a lovely book to share with young readers: it encourages everyone to get their wellies on and take active steps to help the bees.

• Betsy Buglove Saves the Bees by Catherine Jacob and Lucy Fleming is available now from Scholastic Children’s Books. RRP. £6.99