Bumblebees Have Smelly Feet

Instantly attracted by the interesting, humourous title, I was eager to read this book from cover to cover. The contents page drew me in even deeper, with words like whiffy, humble-bumble and lots of supers - super-pollinator, super talent and super power. The book certainly did not disappoint, and even exceeded my expectations.

The clear, detailed photographs and cute illustrations throughout enhanced the beautiful vocabulary in the text. I had a clear image of a ‘cargo of dust’ and a ‘smidgeon of sweet nectar’. And what amazing facts I learned! Did you know that one bumblebee can do 50 times the work of one honeybee? Or pollinate up to 450 tomato flowers per hour? If you thought Dumbledore was just a character from Harry Potter, then think again. I am sure that no matter how old you are, you will be able to learn something new from this book!

Links to relevant YouTube clips, and experiments dotted throughout the book, will encourage students to develop ideas from their reading a little further. And if you’re a teacher, you’ll enjoy making use of a whole page of learning activities at the back of the book, plus useful websites.

This is one book I can’t rave about enough. The only way it could possibly be improved is if the words in the glossary were featured as bold throughout the text.

Title: Bumblebees Have Smelly Feet

Author: Rachel Weston

Illustrator: Deborah Hinde

Publisher: Weston Books

ISBN: 978-0-473-48296-2

RRP: $18.99

Format: Paperback

Date of Publication: September 2019

Ages: 4 – 104 (read by an adult for littlies who find it too tricky)

Reviewer: Nadine Molloy, Library Assistant, Remarkables Primary School, Queenstown

How highly are you recommending this book? Highly recommended

What’s the book’s opening sentence? Wouldn’t it be neat if you could fly around your garden, over rooftops, and up and down your street?

You can buy this book here