(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

(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

(3) K-3 Young beaver Buckley lives with his mother in a small house on the beach and makes boats out of driftwood, launching them out to sea in hopes they will reach his absent father. Eventually, Buckley realizes the worth of his caring mother--and has meanwhile become a skilled craftsman. The strength of this quiet, contemplative book is its gorgeous pen and watercolor illustrations.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) 1-3 Flying Beaver Brothers series. In the sixth installment, island-dwelling beavers Ace and Bub compete in a race to win an awesome houseboat. In a scheme to take the lead, the bros accidentally plant an "everything vine," which indeed takes over everything on the Shark Tooth Islands. The speech-balloon text is deadpan, and the dynamic comic-panel illustrations--pen-and-ink with monochromatic digital coloring--feature plenty of onomatopoeic action.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) 1-3 Beaver Buck hates his one big front tooth and worries it's keeping him from uncovering his talent for the town talent show. His unsuccessful attempts at pulling it leave him feeling defeated, but Buck grows to appreciate the tooth when it ends up being the key to his talent. The ending is predictable, but many visual jokes add value to this transitional reader.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner