Beavers! A collection of books

Anyone who knows me well knows that I collect beaver-related items--figurines, Christmas ornaments, stuffed animals....and books. It all goes back to high school and the Latin Derivatives course with Mrs. Heavilon. One of our earliest assignments (getting us used to figuring out word origins) was to find out what our names meant and where they came from. My name is Beverly Ann...which means "beaver meadow" or "dweller in the beaver meadow" and "full of grace." My maiden name was Ingols which is derived from England or "Anglo"--so, you could say I was a "beaver meadow, full of grace...in England." 😀

Over the years, I've collected books with a beaver theme but never got round to reading them. I was so far behind in my "outdo yourself" challenge this year, that I'm not ashamed to say that I pulled out my beaver books (children's though they may be) and have binge read them in an effort to catch-up. I have one more in-progress book that I'm hoping to finish before midnight strikes and that will give me what I need.

In the meantime...here's my beaver-themed reads:

The Beaver Pond by Alvin Tresselt: This is the oldest of the books, published in 1970, and features some lovely classic illustrations. It tells the story of how beavers working a stream, building their dam, and setting up their lodges can change the environment--providing a place for all sorts of animals to find food and drink and raise their young. 

 
Fun in the Sun by Ski Michaels (1986) is the story of Billy Beaver. Billy loves a good, hot sunny day and just wants to go out and play. But none of his friends enjoy the heat as much as he does and no one wants to get out of the cool shade...until Billy has the grand idea to build a dam in the brook and create the perfect place to play when it's hot. He makes a place to swim and splash with friends.

Beaver Gets Lost by Ariane Chottin 1992): A young beaver gets separated from his family and is taken in by a family of squirrels. The squirrels treat him as one of their own and think of him as another squirrel until it comes time for the parents to show the youngsters how to build a nest for the winter. Little Beaver listens carefully and starts making a huge, round "nest" out of sticks and trees. When one of the young squirrels spot some animals making similar "nests" in the pond nearby, they realize that beaver has found his family. But the beavers and squirrels stay friends and visit often. A sweet little story.

Beaver Stream by Marilyn F. Holmer (1994): A book in the Smithsonian Institute Heritage series that gives factual information about the lives and habits of beavers through the story of another beaver that gets separated from his lodge and has to make a home for himself before winter sets in. Very vivid and realistic illustrations make the book very appealing for children.

The Vanishing Professor by Jack Long is a mystery story filled with word to learn (along the lines of the Richard Scarry books. Mrs. Beaver comes rushing to the office of private investigators Otter O'Reilly and L. Pinkerton asking them to find her missing husband, Professor Igor Beaver. The Professor is due to receive and award from the mayor, but he has disappeared without a trace from his laboratory at home. O'Reilly and Pinkerton are hot on the trail...following the clues left behind by the professor. The trail takes them through the woods and down by the beach, through an amusement park, and finally to another park before they figure out what happened to the missing inventor. And along the way, kids learn vocabulary words related to the scenes.