Beavers

by Rachel Poliquin and Nicholas John Frith

Chainsaw Teeth! Paws of Power! Turbocharged Superstink! These are just a few of the... read more

Chainsaw Teeth! Paws of Power! Turbocharged Superstink! These are just a few of the beaver attributes presented as superpowers in an entertaining work of nonfiction that is simultaneously silly and chockful of information. Elmer Beaver and his partner Irma serve as ambassadors of their species in a volume that covers topics including beavers’ near-extinction in the past (due to the popularity of beaver fur hats), the art of dam construction, and their vital role in wetland water management. Retro-style illustrations and occasional quizzes (True or false: “Elmer and Irma sometimes rent out rooms in their lodge to muskrats, visiting voles, and other such folk.”) contribute to the guide’s comic sensibility and appeal. (True! “... beavers don’t mind sharing their homes with a muskrat or two. They even charge rent, of sorts. I once saw a muskrat take out the dirty bedding and replace it with clean reeds.”) (Ages 7–12)

© Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2019

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