Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

Harlan and the Bee: A Children's Book About Compassion and Sharing by Lena LaRue is a sweet story that teaches valuable life lessons. Harlan is a hummingbird that enjoys the sugar water feeder in the garden so much so that he doesn’t want to share any of it, especially with the greedy bee that keeps visiting it. When he finally confronts her, he discovers that not only is she stealing it but she’s spitting it out. Harlan becomes angry at this and decides that he will prevent her from taking any more. When he discovers the reason, his perspective begins to change. The little bee is sharing the water with her hive so that they all might live. This has a deep impact on him and he’s inspired to help her. This story teaches a powerful message about the importance of understanding, compassion, and sharing.

The illustrations are breathtaking with soft details and muted backgrounds that make the flowers and hummingbird more prominent. The images pair well with the message with eye-catching attention to colors and characters. It is obvious from the beginning that Harlan doesn’t understand the concept of sharing and is very stingy with the sugar water. But his behavior comes into question when a bee starts taking some of the water which upsets him at first. The bee is a sweet character that has strong attributes such as determination and resilience, never backing down even when Harlan gets in her way. She comes into the story as a catalyst that shakes up his routine and perspective, showing him that there is more to his life than drinking sugar water and flying around the garden.

The dynamic between these two characters is charming and humorous, serving as a great basis for a lesson to be told through an entertaining story. The story shows kindness, understanding, and sharing which are important lessons that children of all ages can benefit from. There is also an underlying message that Lena LaRue subtly incorporates by showing how all the creatures and plants in the garden rely on water to survive and that sharing water can make you a water hero. This story is a great way for parents to start conversations with their children in a way that is entertaining and with characters like Harlan and the Bee that are sympathetic, well-rounded, and appealing.