Little Bee's year of blooms by Sarah Jane Lightfoot

Attracted by the brightly coloured gum blossoms, waratahs, sunflowers, pots, a snail and a bee on the front cover of Little Bee’s year of blooms, a sturdy board book, I was fascinated to find what was next as each cut-out page appeared. I turned the front cover to find the book divided into the months of the year. Each month is individually illustrated with a vivid illustration of a gorgeous flowering plant found that month, with other plants peeping behind. It starts with January, with gum blossoms and gum nuts featured, with Little Bee saying:
Hello Cicada!
Let’s find pollen on the bright flowering gums.

On the opposite page we see not just the gum blossoms but sunflowers, roses, bottle brush, wattle, proteas, waratahs and jacarandas. Turning the page for February, Little Bee invites Spider to find pollen on the golden sunflowers, while in March he asks Stick Insect to find pollen on the sweet-smelling roses. This format continues for each month of the year. Individual illustrations not only feature the beautiful flower for that month, but also small details like an old man walking a dog, a woman gardening, people enjoying a  park and giant legs in boots. There are many things to discover about the seasons and what grows each month as well as spotting some plants that grow in pots.

I can visualise walking with my grandson and seeing if we can find any of the flowers and trees featured for the month in the book.

This is an ideal picture book to use with children when discussing months of the year, seasons and flowers and is likely to become a firm favourite of people who garden and love plants. An absolute delight!

Themes: Flowers, Months, Seasons.

Pat Pledger