(2) PS Each element of this playful battle of wills between two best friends exudes joie de vivre. Otter spots sticks and branches and sees them as toys. Beaver, however, sees them as tools to build a dam, and so the pair spends a happy day jostling over who gets the twigs. The patterned, rhythmic dialogue between Otter and Beaver makes for a musical read-aloud: "Give me those branches. I need those branches. Please give me give me give me those branches right now!" The illustrations reinforce that this is all in good fun: frolicking, not bickering, without any moralizing over the value of work over play. Exuberant Otter is shaped like a smile, and stalwart Beaver is sturdy and strong. The two mirror each other in spread after spread, set against sunny, impressionistic backdrops made of swoops and swirls in glowing yellows and cool aquas. While this book is bound to become a storytime favorite, the word repetition, straightforward plot, and clear images make it a fine choice for new readers too. Please give us give us give us more Otter and Beaver.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(2) PS Sharing yet another example of the intricacies of animal home construction (see Nesting, rev. 3/20), Cole introduces readers to the masters of the trade: beavers. A practiced storyteller, Cole employs an engaging refrain ("Building, building. That is what beavers do best") to emphasize this theme as he constructs a year in the life of one beaver family. During the last days of winter in a bleak wood--breathtakingly illustrated with fine ink lines, crosshatching, and a faint sky-blue wash--a male and female search for a place to build their lodge. They select a stream with ample willow and maple trees, and, busy as, well, beavers, they begin cutting the trees, sizing the limbs, lugging them into the water, and creating a dam. Readers see time pass, first as wisps of green leaves announce spring; but soon, as a pond forms, this spot of color spreads to the surrounding grass and trees. The beavers construct a lodge, snug enough for three newborn kits and sturdy enough to withstand a strong storm. As the year progresses, they continue building and repairing. A few rust-colored leaves appear; the beavers prepare for winter, retreating to their sheltered snow-covered home. Neighboring wildlife departs, all color disappears, and a hush settles over the now-barren land, bringing this wondrous account full circle. Appended with a brief author's note.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Ruth Chan. In this mischievous comedy, as the humans leave in a camper van, bears, beavers, deer, and skunks move into their house. The deer bring a karaoke machine; the beavers take over the kitchen; etc. The animals' week of excess leads to chaos before they all depart, cheerfully promising to return next year. Expressive cartoon illustrations play up the outlandish humor inherent in forest creatures vacationing indoors.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2019

(2) K-3 In their sixth entertaining adventure, the bear, the moose, and the beaver start decorating for Christmas--but no one brought a tree. The trio heads back out in search of one, but the tree-hugger bear protests (he didn't realize their plan was to chop it down), leading, eventually, to a creative solution. Spare digital illustrations focus mainly on the friends and the silliness.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2019

(3) K-3 New-to-the-river Beaver is oblivious that his newly constructed dam ("the best dam for miles around...Everyone will love it") negatively affects the animal families living downstream. Frog tries to troubleshoot the cohabitants' dilemma until eventually the dam bursts and Beaver needs their help. James's expressive pen and watercolor illustrations help convey the moral that even well-intended actions can hurt others.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Renata Liwska. Llama is inspired to create "Something special. Something lovely." Her friends (Rabbit, Raccoon, Deer, etc.) join her, quilting, beading, painting, and weaving as she knits. Then Beaver arrives, and his need to create something "useful" prompts Llama to consider how her knitting might be put to practical use. Gauzy, pastel-colored pencil illustrations reflect the animals' gentle activities and calm friendships as they share their "special, crafty, useful" talents.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Catherine Lazar Odell. Little Beaver endures multiple scoldings when playing distracts him from assisting in the completion of the family dam. Luckily Bird, Otter, and Fish happily help him "Nibble nibble snap / scoop scoop pat" until he can (honestly, this time) declare "I'm done!" Odell's careful drawings with watercolor washes add drama and perspective to an otherwise repetitive and slight tale about pitching in when there's work to do.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(3) 4-6 Superpower Field Guide series. Illustrated by Nicholas John Frith. Teeth, tails, and building are just some of the beaver's "superpowers" according to this breezy, conversational guide, which covers beavers' anatomy, eating habits, habitat, and why they were once endangered. The retro aesthetic and familiar animal subject may not grab kids right away, but if they start reading, they'll soon be hooked by the ample humor in both the text and cartoon illustrations. Reading list, websites. Glos.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. A platypus ("DUDE!") and a beaver ("DUDE!") hit the waves with their surfboards. When one spots a shark in the distance ("DUDE...?"), the surf buddies scramble for shore ("DUUUUUDE!"). "Dude" is a surprisingly malleable word, making it a good fit for a one-word (well, almost) yarn. The elastic facial expressions of the three main players in the colorful illustrations say everything the text can't.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS Illustrated by Alison Friend. "Beaver was good at making lots of things," but he struggles to make friends. Raccoon has the same problem, and together they build a snowman to keep them company. Through teamwork, discovery, sadness, and relief, the animals realize they can be friends. The dialogue-heavy text is simple and clear. Cozy digital illustrations show the creatures on their journey toward friendship.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) K-3 Seedlings: Wild Animals series. These attractive books provide basic facts about their subjects, including habitats, physical appearances, family relationships, diets, and behaviors. Spare texts in large type and bright, eye-catching photos make the information accessible to new nonfiction readers. A concluding spread features an anatomically labeled photo of the animal and a couple of close-ups of specific features. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Seedlings: Wild Animals titles: Beavers, Brown Bears, Killer Whales, and Wild Horses.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 After burly lumberjack Jim Hickory chops down a tree in which a now-irate bird had a nest, he makes amends: "I suppose you could move into my beard." Soon he's hosting a similarly inconvenienced porcupine and beaver--and now it's Jim who's inconvenienced. The story's resolution is sublime, and Beedie's deadpan digital illustrations relay the nonstop silliness that cushions a worthy ecological message.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Animal Builders series. Illustrated by Romina Martí. Raum describes the way each mammal constructs a home, with information on food, mating, and reproduction given in the context of home-building. The texts are engaging but occasionally anthropomorphic; though the cartoony illustrations portray the animals' habitats accurately, photos would have shown readers signs to notice in nature. Includes a habitat map and a building activity. Also available in Spanish. Reading list, websites. Glos. Review covers these Animal Builders titles: Bears Make Dens, Beavers Build Lodges, Orangutans Build Tree Nests, and Rabbits Dig Burrows.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) K-3 After beaver Fred builds his dream den, he thinks, "It's missing something." When a lumberjack girl with a power saw makes a den nearby, Fred realizes, "It's missing someone!" Unfortunately, his plan to secure the girl's friendship backfires extravagantly (he drops a tree on her den). This goofy tale's cartoon illustrations help make the point that brokering a friendship can be hard work.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tina Macnaughton. Some woodland animals try to track down a mysterious red-hatted creature who's making noises by the river at night. When the water rises dangerously, two beavers in red hats reveal themselves and save the day. (They've been building a dam nearby.) The writing is rather awkward, but the mystery and the appealing illustrations (featuring fuzzy touch-and-feel hats) are engaging.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 In this meaningful story laced with humor, beaver Paula and elephant Maggie are long-time friends, but Paula turns her back on her buddy after a bully finds fault with Maggie's size. Nevertheless, when the bully harasses Paula, loyal Maggie rushes to her defense--and forgives her, too. Expressive acrylic illustrations and effective page design are essential to Harrison's storytelling.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Alligator Alan terrorizes his jungle-mates by flashing sharp, well-polished teeth--until Barry the beaver reveals those teeth are false. Some narrative choices fall flat: beavers do not live in jungles, and Alan's toothless lisp, while comical, seems to make fun of those with speech impediments. Still, the book is a visual feast of pencil, chalk, paint, and digital coloring that vividly convey the wild setting.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(3) 4-6 Cameron's sole interest in life is video games. His understandably fed-up parents rescind his gaming privileges unless he chooses an extracurricular activity, leading him to invent a fake service club that, naturally, takes off and spirals out of Cameron's control. The fast pace, incident-rich plotting, and economically delineated relationships make this an entertaining, twisty read.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Deborah Hocking. The nighttime activities of a male beaver kit and his family are portrayed in rich, jewel-toned artwork and clear, informative text, both of which convey the poetry of the natural world. Through the seasons, life at the lodge and dam--created, tended, and expanded by generations of beaver families--is filled with dangers, sibling play, dam repair, and plenty of food. Additional facts and an author's note are appended. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(3) K-3 Animal Superstars series. Each of these high-interest nonfiction-series titles offers short, engaging sentences alongside every spread's bold section title and crisp photos. Beginning readers can practice for fluency and discover intriguing animal facts along the way: chimpanzees can grasp with their feet, humpback whales sing together, etc. A short comprehension quiz is appended to each volume. Glos. Review covers the following Animal Superstars titles: Beaver, Chimpanzee, Humpback Whale, and Wolverine.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo