Lottie Loves Nature: Bee-ware; Jane Clarke, illustrated by James Brown

This is the second book in the series of eco-adventures with Lottie and Noah.

Nature-loving Lottie dreams of being a wildlife presenter like her idol Samira Breeze, the host of Every Little Thing. For her latest project, Lottie is busily trying to help all of the mini-beasts in her garden. Unfortunately, not everyone shares Lottie’s passion for ‘wriggly, squishy, flappy, buzzy, things’.

Next-door-neighbour Mr. Parfitt likes his grass to be artificial and his garden to be insect free so he can practice his golf in peace. When a swarm of bees buzz into his garden there’s only one thing for it…call the exterminator. Will Lottie be able to save the swarm before it’s too late…

This story is a lovely blend of fiction and fact that will inspire children to get outside, to explore the mini-beasts on their doorstep and to become actively involved in conservation. It is a great read for nature loving-children like Lottie and is a lovely celebration of some of the fantastic insects that are essential to our survival.

Lottie is brilliant; she is kind, caring and respectful of nature. When she is not helping caterpillars out of holes or reviving weary bees with sugary water she is building bug hotels and assembling butterfly feeders. The story is bursting with nature facts, bee-rilliant practical ideas to help all insects and some bee-autiful ways to turn gardens into wildlife paradises.

Terrific black and white illustrations feature throughout and the story is broken up with pages from Lottie’s notebook and fact-files that are filled with all sorts of fantastic information on insects, habitats, and, as the title suggests, bees. Brief instructions for making a butterfly feeder and a bug hotel can be found at the end.

I was buzzing after reading this story and immediately went into my garden to see what I could find - so far I have spotted worms hiding under stones, a few ants, a butterfly and a woodlouse. What will you find in yours?

Recommended for 6+.