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Synopsis
When Beaver gets hurt trying to fix some holes in the roof of his new lodge, his friends Hedgehog and Bear come to the rescue, carrying him off to Bear s cave to recuperate. While Beaver sleeps, Hedgehog and Bear gather stones, sticks, grasses, and mud, not merely repairing the damaged lodge but also decorating their creation with things they find in the forest. But in their enthusiasm, they forget to make an entrance so Beaver can get inside. Rather than rebuilding it again, Beaver offers to bite his way through.
Children's Literature
When Beaver hurts himself and can't continue fixing his lodge, his friends, including Bear and Hedgehog, complete the work with a few creative additions and one omission—a door. But Beaver promises to bite his way in, pointing to his large orange teeth. The limp story, first published in the Netherlands, includes no visual reference to real beaver lodges, partially submerged as they are, which is sure to bother nature lovers. The naturalistic setting provides pinecones, shells and flowers to decorate the finished lodge, but jarringly, a beat-up bucket and an old tire also make an appearance. The anthropomorphic animals depicted in watercolors have a pleasant appearance but not enough to save this weak and clumsily told (or translated) story. 2001, Front Street, $15.95. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Susan Hepler