annieb123
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Pocket Nature: Beekeeping is an accessible and attractive pocket guide to bees and beekeeping by Ariel Silva. Due out 26th March 2024 from Chronicle Books, it's 128 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.
This is a layman accessible and appealing book. It has a very retro vibe, with simple monochrome line drawn interior art (not as detailed as the cover art, which is gorgeous). It's a bit scattered and the information is not very rigidly organized. The author covers general (*very* general) info on bees, pollination, getting started with beekeeping (parts of a hive), honey, and some of the appeal of the craft. There are several activity prompts scattered throughout which will help readers get outdoors, observe, and *learn* about the more philosophical aspects of beekeeping and appreciation for our vital pollinators.
Three and a half stars. It's *not*, strictly speaking, a primer for actually getting started beekeeping (although it does give some tips); it's mostly a general short guide to getting out in nature and finding help to get started and some of the author's own background journey. There are also companion volumes in the series with the same format and graphic vibes on foraging, learning to identify wildflowers, and more.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.