Cate and the Garden Bandits is a cute picture book about the creatures who live in our gardens. Cate, a butterfly, and her friends, a dung beetle, an earthworm, and a potato bug, water and nurture their magic garden, but despite their efforts, the flowers keep losing petals. One day Cate meets an intruder, a bumblebee! When she follows him, she discovers where the petals have disappeared to.
Ginger Seehafer's illustrations are lovely and vibrant. The garden inhabitants are charming in author Betsy Coffeen's story and the drawings.
There were a few scraps that didn't work for me. I felt it was odd to call the garden "magic" and to emphasize the word by making it white rather than black like the rest of the text. However, along with a second author, Betsy Coffeen wrote a previous book entitled "Cate's Magic Garden," which would explain why this seemingly ordinary, although beautiful garden is called "magic." Also, I thought the portrayal of the first bumblebee that Cate met was a bit heavy-handed depiction of an antagonist, especially since he wore an eyepatch. That may have been a conscious decision by the author and illustrator, wanting the thief to resemble a pirate. The bumblebee both "bellowed" and "grunted," negative words and, in my mind, unnecessary, especially given the book ending. That ending, to me, seemed to use big words for a picture book and to overdo the new friendship - Cate was suddenly "overwhelmed with compassion and filled with empathy." When the old bumblebee saw that Cate understood, "a tear filled his one good eye." He "gazed at Cate with a look of pure love and kindness."
Overall, though, Cate and the Garden Bandits is a winsome book that, with the glossary in the back, will teach little ones more about the natural world around them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Story Monsters Press for the ARC of this book.

A cute children's story that shows that not everything is as it appears and a good tool for showing the biodiversity and homeosympathetic relationships in an ecosystem.

Prepare for an enchanting journey with Cate the butterfly in Cate and the Garden Bandits by Betsy Coffeen. When Cate discovers the mysterious disappearance of flower petals in her garden, she encounters a bumblebee who turns out to be a protector of his family. Through stunning illustrations and a heartwarming message, this delightful children's book emphasizes the significance of interdependence and inclusion.

Betsy Coffeen's storytelling talent shines. The engaging narrative and vivid illustrations capture the imagination of readers young and old. Children will be captivated by Cate's adventures, and parents will appreciate the underlying themes of interconnectedness and equality. This book is a perfect choice for bedtime stories or classroom discussions, as it sparks important conversations about compassion and cooperation. Join Cate and her new friend on a journey filled with wonder and life lessons that will resonate with readers long after the final page.

Hey there, fellow adventurers! Let me tell you about the most magical children's book I've stumbled upon recently: Cate and the Garden Bandits by Betsy Coffeen. It's a story you and your little ones won't want to miss. Cate, a curious butterfly, finds herself in a garden mystery when flower petals start vanishing into thin air. But guess what? It's the encounter with a bumblebee that turns her world upside down and teaches her the importance of interdependence and inclusivity.

The illustrations in this book are simply breathtaking. They bring Cate's world to life in vibrant colors and capture every little detail, making it a visual feast for the eyes. And the message! Coffeen skillfully weaves together a heartwarming tale that celebrates the beauty of cooperation and recognizing the value in every individual. In today's global world, these themes couldn't be more relevant.

Cate and the Garden Bandits has the most beautiful and colorful illustrations. The storyline was adorable as well!
Cate and her friends work hard day after day in their garden to ensure all their flowers stay alive. Cate notices that flower petals keep disappearing, no matter how much they take care of them.
One day, Cate runs into a one-eyed bumblebee and sees he has petals. She follows him to see where he is going with them.
Just wait until you find out why he kept taking the petals...Will Cate still be mad when she finds out the reason why?
Author, Betsy Coffeen wrote a brilliant book which includes the main character showing empathy and compassion.
#CateandtheGardenBandits #NetGalley

Fluttering with enchantment, 'Cate and the Bumblebee' whisked me away into a world brimming with wonder and wisdom. This delightful story follows Cate, a charming butterfly, as she embarks on an enlightening journey following an odd yet kind bumblebee. Their adventure takes flight as the bumblebee unveils the secrets behind the importance of gathering pollen and nectar. Through vibrant illustrations and engaging dialogue, the story effortlessly imparts essential ecological lessons in a fun and captivating way.

If I were to offer a tiny suggestion, it would be to explore more opportunities for "showing" the emotions of the characters rather than relying on "telling." By emphasizing subtle body language, facial expressions, or even descriptive actions, the readers could immerse themselves further into the characters' emotional states, fostering a stronger connection with Cate and the bumblebee.

Overall, 'Cate and the Garden Bandits' is a joyous celebration of friendship and the beauty of nature.

Thank you so much to Story Monster Press and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Cate wakes up from a daydream to find the flower petals are being stolen from her magic garden, she sets her mind to find out who is doing it and why as she follows a one eyed bumblebee.

The illustrations in this book are stunningly bright, so vibrant they were really gorgeous to look at. I loved all the colours of the petals and of Cate herself, it was so beautiful to look at.

The story was really sweet and an easy to read book, following daydreamer butterfly Cate and as she helps her magic garden and her friends find out what is happening to the petals off of all the flowers. She gets into a bit of scary trouble by trying to find out though but in the end finds the real and sweet reason they are all going missing.

I think it’s a great book for younger children, it teaches about bumblebees and what they do, why they are important but in a very simplistic way. It shows compassion and kindness too. It’s beautiful to look at and has a good story progression.

I wanted so much to love this book. I love bees and will promote just about any book that portrays them in a positive light. Not to mention, the pictures are adorable, with a chubby butterfly named Cate as the main character. However, I could not get past the portrayal of the bees, such as the leader with the eye-patch or the fact that they were stealing flower petals, which seems to be the entire premise for the conflict in the story, and I don’t really understand why the butterfly was so clumsy. I love a silly story and adventures with anthropomorphic animals, but this one just wasn’t for me.

This was very cute. The colors in the illustrations were bright and bold. It was a bit hard to read in places where the font was placed over the illustrations. The story was adorable.

A Butterfly Solves the Flower Garden Mystery

What a sweet read Betsy Coffeen has delivered with this book. The glossary at the end of the story is a nice touch, especially for kids like my grandson, who loves bugs. It will surely aid understanding for young readers. Her prose is fairly simple, but she's challenging them a little by expanding their vocabulary.

I loved the adorable illustrations. I'm not sure why the author gave the bumble bee one eye and an eye patch, but I'm sure children will like how easy it is to pick him out from the other bumble bees. I loved how illustrator Ginger Seehafer depicted Cate as she tumbled, her little legs made me laugh.

Thank you to Betsy Coffeen, Story Monsters Press, and NetGalley for the free advance reader's copy of Cate and the Garden Bandits. My review is unencumbered by obligation for it, however. It will make a terrific bedtime story.

"Cate and the Garden Bandits" by Betsy Coffeen showcases visually stunning illustrations, brimming with vibrant colors and delightful charm. The artwork is undoubtedly a highlight of the book. However, the storyline would benefit from further development to enhance its coherence and clarity.

The illustrations in this children's book are truly captivating, capturing young readers' attention with their beauty and liveliness. The bright and appealing visuals add a touch of enchantment to the reading experience.

While the illustrations shine, the narrative could be strengthened. The storyline lacks a certain level of coherence, which may pose challenges for young readers in fully comprehending and following the events. With some improvements in clarity and cohesion, the book has the potential to offer a more engaging and enjoyable reading journey.

This was a cute book. Cate and her other hardworking friends in the garden are wondering what keeps happening to their beautiful flower petals when suddenly, Cate stumbles around the culprits - bumblebees! A little fiction mixed with nonfiction, and the pictures were very well done!

Thanks to the publisher and Betgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a perfect little story about a butterfly who thinks someone is stealing petals from her magic garden.

Loved the graphics, the words to learn in the back and the illustrations.

I thought this was the perfect length for the target audience.

It teaches about about symbiosis and is a great early eco lesson and could be paired with so many fun gardening/ nature activities.

What a cute book!!! I am a grandma to 5 wonder kids under the age of 7. They would love this book. The story is sweet and the illustrations are beautiful. The best part of the book, however, are the bees. Thank you for making bees not so scary and explain why they are so important. Will buy this book for my grandchildren.

this was so cute! i loved the illustrations and how colorful they were, will for sure considering getting this for children in my life

OMG, the illustrations in this book are so good! Beautiful from start to finish. Cate the butterfly finds herself in the middle of a mystery, but with the help of a friendly bumble bee, she's going to solve it! A great book about acceptance, friendship, and independence.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley.

This is a cute book that teaches young readers about the importance of one of nature's most important pollinators—bees! Educational and uplifting.