Book Review: The Little Bee by Nicola Killen

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The Little Bee  by Nicola Killen  is a children's picture book about a girl name Ollie who follows a bee to a magical, secret garden. But, the next day, the beautiful garden was gone, and the little girl misses her new friends. What will she do? This beautiful book has an expected publication date of May 5, 2026. I'd like to thank NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, and Beach Lane Books for approving my request for a digital Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Little Bee . I received a copy for free in exchange for my honest review. Nicola Killen wrote such a beautifully worded story that I found myself immersed in the story, and I'm not even the target audience. It's a charming tale that should encourage children to explore nature and make them want to plant their own secret garden.  Equally beautiful were the illustrations. I found myself taking the time to actually look a the pictures as I read. It's a great story to read   at bedtime  with ch...
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Book Review: There Are No Dragons In This Book by Donna Lambo-Weidner

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Book Review: There Are No Dragons In This Book by Donna Lambo-Weidner
NetGalley ARC of Book Review of There Are No Dragons In This Book by Donna Lambo-Weidner
There Are No Dragons In This Book by Donna Lambo-Weidner is a children’s picture book that encourages young readers to carefully examine each page to make sure there truly are no dragons hiding within the story. The expected publication date is March 5, 2024. I’d like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review.

Going into this book, I was curious about how the story would play with the idea of searching for dragons, especially since interactive picture books can be a lot of fun for kids. Unfortunately, I found myself a bit disappointed overall. The story didn’t fully hold my attention, and it’s not one I would personally reach for when choosing a book to read aloud to a child. The pacing and narrative just didn’t quite work for me, and I didn’t feel particularly drawn into the experience as a reader.

One aspect that stood out to me in a negative way was the fact that the book does, in fact, contain dragons despite the title insisting otherwise. While this may be intended as a playful twist, I couldn’t help but think that some children might feel misled or confused by this contradiction. Younger readers, in particular, may take the title very literally and feel frustrated when the promise of “no dragons” doesn’t quite hold true. That said, I also recognize that humor and surprise land differently for children than they do for adults, and many kids may find this element funny rather than upsetting.

On a more positive note, the illustrations are vibrant, colorful, and full of detail. The artwork gives readers plenty to look at and explore on each page, which helps maintain interest even when the story itself didn’t fully work for me. The visuals are clearly a strong point of the book and will likely appeal to children who enjoy lively, eye-catching pictures in their stories.

Overall, while There Are No Dragons In This Book by Donna Lambo-Weidner wasn’t a standout read for me personally, it may still find an appreciative audience among its intended readers. For that reason, I ultimately rated the book three out of five stars.

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