A little beaver with a slapdash approach to dam-building comes to appreciate the satisfaction of a job well done in this sweet tale that's perfect for storytime.
Nibble, nibble, snap. When Little Beaver sets a single twig across the stream, he figures that should be good enough for a dam. "I'm done!" he calls to Papa before tearing off to play with Fish. But Papa isn't buying it, and it's back to work for Little Beaver. Nibble, nibble, snap, scoop, scoop, pat. Little Beaver sets two more twigs across the stream, and adds some mud before scurrying off with Blue Heron. Mama isn't amused. "You're not done yet." GRETCHEN MCLELLAN'S text explores the value of perseverance at a level perfect for very young readers, while CATHARINE LAZAR ODELLS darling illustrations capture the sweetness of Little Beaver's attempts at perfecting his dam--and the triumph of his eventual success.
"Again and again, Little Beaver, eager to play with his friends, claims his dam is finished—but is it? Art and text combine to provide a plot familiar to a great many children. . . . There is a good deal of onomatopoeia and gentle rhyming to provide enjoyment to both a read-aloud audience and beginning readers. . . . There is gentle humor throughout. A bit of natural science combines with a sweet tale of perseverance and camaraderie."—Kirkus Reviews
"How will Little Beaver's parents get him to stay focused and finish his work? Mama and Papa are stern but gentle. . . . The story teaches the benefits of determination and pride in a job well done. The pen and watercolor illustrations are soft and appealing. The characters have realistic traits, such as webbing on the beaver’s hind feet and details of the feathers on the bird. The main characters are expressive and endearing. Young children will enjoy the onomatopoeia that repeats throughout the book. This is a fun read-aloud that also teaches and reinforces an important lesson."—School Library Journal
GRETCHEN MCCLELLAN writes everywhere she can--in barns and bookstores, bathtubs and beds, cars and coffee houses.
CATHERINE LAZAR ODELL has been to all fifty states in the US, lived in six, and has called Portland, Oregon home for twelve years. There, she creates in her garage studio. She can weld and sew. This is her first picture book.
A little beaver with a slapdash approach to dam-building comes to appreciate the satisfaction of a job well done in this sweet tale that's perfect for storytime.
Nibble, nibble, snap. When Little Beaver sets a single twig across the stream, he figures that should be good enough for a dam. "I'm done!" he calls to Papa before tearing off to play with Fish. But Papa isn't buying it, and it's back to work for Little Beaver. Nibble, nibble, snap, scoop, scoop, pat. Little Beaver sets two more twigs across the stream, and adds some mud before scurrying off with Blue Heron. Mama isn't amused. "You're not done yet." GRETCHEN MCLELLAN'S text explores the value of perseverance at a level perfect for very young readers, while CATHARINE LAZAR ODELLS darling illustrations capture the sweetness of Little Beaver's attempts at perfecting his dam--and the triumph of his eventual success.
Praise
"Again and again, Little Beaver, eager to play with his friends, claims his dam is finished—but is it? Art and text combine to provide a plot familiar to a great many children. . . . There is a good deal of onomatopoeia and gentle rhyming to provide enjoyment to both a read-aloud audience and beginning readers. . . . There is gentle humor throughout. A bit of natural science combines with a sweet tale of perseverance and camaraderie."—Kirkus Reviews
"How will Little Beaver's parents get him to stay focused and finish his work? Mama and Papa are stern but gentle. . . . The story teaches the benefits of determination and pride in a job well done. The pen and watercolor illustrations are soft and appealing. The characters have realistic traits, such as webbing on the beaver’s hind feet and details of the feathers on the bird. The main characters are expressive and endearing. Young children will enjoy the onomatopoeia that repeats throughout the book. This is a fun read-aloud that also teaches and reinforces an important lesson."—School Library Journal
Author
GRETCHEN MCCLELLAN writes everywhere she can--in barns and bookstores, bathtubs and beds, cars and coffee houses.
CATHERINE LAZAR ODELL has been to all fifty states in the US, lived in six, and has called Portland, Oregon home for twelve years. There, she creates in her garage studio. She can weld and sew. This is her first picture book.
