"The real queen in this colony is the striking artwork . . . Close-ups of the bees alternate with views of a lush countryside and its other denizens. It’s an inviting book on any shelf, and the story is concise enough for longer storytimes. Educators, caregivers, and young readers will all be buzzing with delight. This book is the bee’s knees."-Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"A handsome introduction to an endangered bumblebee."-Booklist
"Extraordinary book, with illustrations created in earth tones and similar to Mary Azarian’s wood cuts, shows us exactly what the bees’ life is like above and below ground. Three well-known authors give us the complete life history of this bee."-Youth Services Book Review
"Begin with a Bee by Liza Ketchum, Jacqueline Briggs Martin and Phyllis Root explores the life cycle and importance of the rusty patched bumble bee."-The Gazette
"If you don’t love exploring and learning with your child, then this isn’t the book for you. But if you are ready to dive down a rabbit hole (well, bee colony hole) of curiosity, then you’ll want to pick it up for every nature lover and nature lover-to-be(e) in your life."-Little Village
"This involving picture book tells the story one little bee, whose ‘tiny body (not even an inch) / holds everything she needs to create / a whole colony of bees.’"-Pioneer Press
"McGehee’s Illustrations help us see the wonder of nature around us."-Iowa City Press-Citizen
"To educate a child about the importance of these pollinating insects and our own responsibilities in the natural world, there is no better book than Begin with a Bee."-Minnesota Alumni
"A gorgeous and informative look at the bee lifecycle."-Waking Brain Cells
"Wonderful reading, bringing memories, gardening lore, and scientific understanding to all who admiringly turn their pages."-Deerfield Valley News
"McGehee’s wonderful woodcuts are bursting with the colors and movements of the meadow flora and fauna, yet also delicately detailed in portraying bee anatomy. "-The Horn Book Magazine
"Claudia McGehee’s distinctive scratchboard illustrations provide a realistic picture of the lives of bees, without any anthropomorphism, as well as a strong sense of the natural world in which bees live. "-Cooperative Children’s Book Center
"This well-written children's book, accompanied by beautiful illustrations, is a great source of education for all ages."-Northern Wilds
"Root, Ketchum, and Martin are veteran picture book writers, and they all worked together to create this gentle story of a queen bee, from the moment she wakes in the spring, to the moment she gives up her wee bee ghost, and beyond."-Book Riot
"To educate a child about the importance of these pollinating insects and our own responsibilities in the natural world, there is no better book that Begin With a Bee." -Minnesota Alumni Magazine
