Quick Look
- Catherine Ward deftly spins together a compelling story with factual information about how beavers build their homes and positively impact the environment
- Contains an emotional learning message about making the best of new beginnings and learning to adapt to different surroundings
- Full of character and warmth, Phoebe Roze's illustrations perfectly capture the atmosphere of the Scottish countryside
- Once extinct in Scotland, successful rewilding projects have restored beavers to their place as a keystone native species, playing a hugely beneficial role in our natural environment
- Features an ungendered main character
Beck learns to love living at Grandma's farm with the help of a pair of beavers that have moved to the stream nearby. A beautifully illustrated tale of new beginnings that will also teach children about the brilliance of beavers.
Description
Beck is sad about moving to Grandma's farm and leaving their old house and friends behind. But Beck isn't the only one with a new place to live -- a pair of beavers have come to live in the stream nearby.
As Beck settles in, they watch the beavers busily gathering sticks to build a dam, which creates a pool and wetland habitat where lots of other wildlife can live. When the beavers have kits, Beck realises how happy everyone is in their new homes.
By the Beaver Pool is a tale of new beginnings, rewilding, connecting with nature and feeling at home. Catherine Ward's gentle story cleverly weaves in beaver facts to teach young readers about these incredible ecosystem engineers, which are being reintroduced in the UK due to their ability to transform their local environment and increase biodiversity. Phoebe Roze's characterful, warm illustrations show the parallel stories of Beck and the beavers, set in stunning Scottish scenery.
Author
Catherine Ward is a children's author and geographer, with experience working in primary schools and a passion for wildlife conservation. She is also the author of The Emerald Forest. Catherine lives with her family in Leicestershire.
Phoebe Roze is an illustrator from the Scottish Highlands who is inspired by the landscapes, nature and folklore of Scotland. She has created work for The Folio Society, Glasgow Children's Hospital and Dundee City Council. By the Beaver Pool is her first picture book.
