The Humblebee Hunter: Inspired by the Life and Experiments of Charles Darwin and His Children

I really enjoyed the illustrations, but the story was unsatisfying and ended abruptly. Might be a good way to introduce a science lesson, or talking about observation of the natural world, but doesn't really stand up on its own.

As a fan of Charles Darwin, I found this to be an informational perspective of the scientific method from the viewpoint of one of Darwin's daughters. Darwin is known to have completed many experiments at his family home, and this is an interesting look at the possibility that he involved his family in these experiments. The last page of the book includes biographical information on Darwin and his family. The illustrations are modern and reflects a new creativity in children's book illustrating.

Like the children in the story itself, young readers will benefit from adult guidance with this book, which should be identified as a fictional account. Darwin’s children—especially Etty—examine a scientific question concerning pollination. Author’s note on Darwin and his family included.