Beau Beaver Goes to Town

August 1, 2009
K-Gr 3-In this charming book, Beau Beaver sets out to find a mate and to build a lodge of his own. Unfortunately, he builds his first dam across a ditch in the middle of town, using a lot of found materials (a toy truck, a charcoal grill, a rake, a plastic ducky, etc.). His misdirected efforts including felling a tree that lands on a man's car. The story, based on an actual event, ends happily when Beau is caught and released in a more appropriate location. There he meets Brenda Beaver and they set out together to create beaver bliss on a remote pond. The story is amusingkids will chuckle at Beau's innocent naughtiness. The rhyming text generally flows well, although there are a few bumpy couplets. Charcoal and watercolor illustrations are drenched with blues and greens, creating a sopping wet palette well suited to the story. Bloxam provides plenty of interesting animal details, both within the story and in the two additional pages of beaver facts. This book provides a first-rate introduction to an interesting animal. Pair it with Joseph Bruchac and James Bruchac's "Turtle's Race with Beaver" (Dial, 2003) for a discussion about relationships and working together."Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME"

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