posted on 22 Mar 2024

Maisy Loves Bees and Maisy Loves Trees by Lucy Cousins

I have only recently discovered the delights of what is described in the publicity as ‘Maisy’s Planet’ - so I was very pleased to see this charming pair of board books aimed at attracting very young readers.

The cover of ‘Maisy Loves Bees’ shows the eponymous white mouse happily watching five busy bees with her arms outstretched against a strong orange background. The turn of the page provides some very basic information about these special insects with a facing page that shows her watching more in her garden. There are opportunities for counting as well as perhaps identifying the flowers and wondering why her boots are so muddy. This format continues throughout the book which is an unusual blend of interesting information and story.

As always, the distinctive, brightly coloured design holds the attention and I am sure will encourage plenty of questions, paintings and drawings in response. They might also be encouraged to try eating some bread with delicious honey after learning about how it is produced. I particularly liked the final double page spread that shows how Maisy and her friends can help the ‘brilliant’ bees to find more pollen by planting more seeds in the garden. The food cycle is a complicated but pretty amazing concept for children to grasp and this one will definitely help them to begin to understand. 

‘Maisy Loves Trees’ is just as successful in the way it shows how important it is to value and care about the environment. The cover shows her carefully watering a tree laden with pink blossom against a deep blue background. Keen eyes will also spot a Ladybird at the base of the tree and a Robin singing on one of the branches. I enjoyed the page showing the magical changes to a pear tree over the four seasons which reminded me of painting something very similar when I was about five years old.

As an adult who has been surrounded by trees for nearly seventy years, I think that it is easy to forget just how awe inspiring they must seem to little children. Sharing a book like this gives them and adults the opportunity to think about what they are, what they provide and to look at the splendid variety of trees, leaves and fruits pictorially. It will also provide lots of inspiration for discussion and exploration in the real world.  

Congratulations to this author/ illustrator for condensing these wonderful subjects into such a pleasing educational format. 

Published by Walker Books, you will be able to buy this pair of board books from your local independent bookshop – who will be happy to order them from you if they don’t have them on their shelves.

Strongly recommended.

Karen Argent

March 2024