The Beaver's Lodge: Building with Leftovers

Children's Literature - Nancy Garhan Attebury

This high interest, easy-to-read book from the "Spectacular Animal Town" series will build upon and expand the knowledge of readers in regard to beavers, how they live, and what they do. An engaging introductory chapter describes the discovery of the world's longest beaver dam, which is longer than nine football fields. A world map helps readers readily understand where beavers live and accompanying chapter text offers the basics of why beavers build dams. An illustration covering a two-page spread shows what a beaver lodge looks like both above and below the water level of a pond. Others of the twelve chapters offer information on how beavers build homes from leftover material, what they eat, how they store food, and how they send messages. One informative spread explains how beavers are built for the job they do. In this spread, the teeth, paddle-shaped tail, webbed foot, and thick fur are shown and discussed. Many photos and 100 or fewer words per spread make this book appealing. The interest level stretches from second through seventh grade and the text is written at a third grade level. An interesting end page tells about other rodents, the nutria and naked mole rat, who also build colonies. This well-written book will supplement science and social science lessons. Reviewer: Nancy Garhan Attebury

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6–This delightful series highlights the habitats of a variety of creatures, from tiny one-celled corals to bats, beavers, and prairie dogs. Through excellent photographs, high-interest texts, sidebars, maps, and other material, children learn about both the animals and their habitats. The species are shown not only within their own kind, but also in relation to those that share the habitat. For example, coral reefs are discussed in terms of the individual corals that make up the organism, and in relation to other animals that inhabit it and environmental situations that benefit or threaten it. Each book also provides brief profiles of animals with similar habitats. The publisher’s Web site provides links to other Web sites and activities about each animal profiled. These books are much better than average “report” titles.