by Stephanie Shaw (Author)
Long ago Beaver did not look like he does now.
Yes, he had two very large front teeth, but his tail was not wide and flat. It was thick with silky fur. Vain Beaver is inordinately proud of his glorious tail. When he's not bragging about his tail, Beaver spends his time grooming it, while the other woodland creatures go about their business of finding food and shelter for their families.
Eventually Beaver's boasting drives away his friends and he is left on his own. But when his tail is flattened in an accident (of his own making), Beaver learns to value its new shape and seeks to make amends with his friends. Based on an Ojibwe legend.
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An easily digestible fable with a simple moral and added classroom value as a natural science add-on.
Brief notes about beavers and about the Ojibwe people are appended.
K-Gr 3--This retelling of an Ojibwe legend successfully illustrates a moral and explains an important natural concept, while still being an enjoyable read. The story tells how Beaver once had a fluffy, soft tail that made him so prideful he drove away his friends. When a tree lands on his tail and he has no one to help him, he frees himself but is left with a flat and hairless tail. In simple language, the message comes across clearly and the way Beaver helps his friends in the tale is also the way that beavers help their environment in reality. A helpful endnote explains that beavers are a keystone species and how their actions make an environment that is suitable for other species. For example, their dams slow the water and raise the temperature to make it suitable for fish to lay eggs. The painterly illustrations make each spread feel like a landscape, which is suitable for the tone of the text. VERDICT Whether for classroom use or as a pleasurable read-aloud, this is a good addition to picture book collections.--Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Ft. Thomas, KY
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