Beavers (Superpower Field Guide #1)

by Rachel Poliquin (Author) Nicholas John Frith (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

Beavers, the first book in the new middle-grade nonfiction Superhero Field Guide series by Rachel Poliquin and award-winning illustrator Nicholas John Frith, is a delightfully informative, laugh-out-loud full-color look at the most unsuspecting of animal heroes, perfect for readers who like their facts served with a large dose of humor.

Meet Elmer, an ordinary beaver. He may not be as mighty as a lion or as dangerous as a shark. He may be squat and brown. But never underestimate a beaver. I can almost hear you saying, "But aren't beavers just lumpy rodents with buck teeth and funny flat tails?" Yes, they are! And believe it or not, those buck teeth and funny flat tails are just a few of the things that make beavers extraordinary.

Humorous and engaging, Beavers is the first book in the new highly illustrated nonfiction Superpower Field Guide series, inspiring readers to laugh, think, and view the world around them with new eyes.

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School Library Journal

Gr 2-5—In this guide to a beaver's "superpowers," a nameless woman identifies and explains what is remarkable about beavers, as exemplified by a fictional pair she calls Elmer and Irma. The narrator introduces each superpower, or trait, by describing it as a special ability, then explaining how it works. Text boxes and quizzes are interspersed throughout and add a bit of fun. The illustrations, which have a vintage look to them, alternate between comic depictions of rodents and more detailed diagrams that identify different physical features of beavers and their habitats. The text is clear and friendly, though it occasionally tries too hard to be cute. The book's usefulness for students is hampered by the lack of a table of contents but it is helped by a clear glossary and a detailed further reading section. VERDICT Though it might take some hand selling, this is a serviceable addition to most libraries.—Sheri Reda, Wilmette Public Library, IL

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"Eager beavers who likewise find these redoubtable rodents 'utterly gobsmackable!' will find a chewy array of print and web resources to sink their teeth into at the end."—Booklist, STARRED review

"Well worth the purchase."—Kirkus

"Clear and friendly."—School Library Journal
Rachel Poliquin
Rachel Poliquin is a writer engaged in all things orderly and disorderly in the natural world. Poliquin is the author of the Superpower Field Guide series, and has also written for Science Friday, The Believer Magazine, and The New York Times. Visit her at www.rachelpoliquin.com, on Twitter @ravishingbeasts and on Instagram @rachelpoliquin

Nicholas John Frith is the author/illustrator of Hector and Hummingbird, shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's book Prize 2016 and winner of the inaugural Klaus Flugge Prize, as well as the book Hello, Mr. Dodo! and the Superpower Field Guide series. He lives and works on the coast of Dorset, England. Visit him at www.nicholasjohnfrith.com and on Twitter @njfrith.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9780544949874
Lexile Measure
890
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Clarion Books
Publication date
December 04, 2018
Series
Superpower Field Guide
BISAC categories
JNF003140 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Mammals
JNF028000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Humor | General
JNF051100 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Environmental Science & Ecosystems
Library of Congress categories
Beavers

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