"Beck's heart feels heavy as she moves home, leaving her old house and friends behind, but finds comfort in the beavers, newly introduced to the stream by Grandma's farm."
Moving home is a challenging transitional period in the life of any child, learning to leave behind somewhere you have lived and loved and everything associated with it. Beck and her mum are moving from their home, leaving her friends behind, to live with Grandma on her farm. It's so different from what she's known; she can't see any other houses nearby, and instead she learns about her new neighbours - a pair of beavers who have also made a new home in the nearby stream.
Through learning about the beaver's efforts to resettle, Beck learns valuable lessons, not only about how to make herself at home in her new surroundings, but also how to thrive in her new environment. There's plenty for children to connect and empathise with in Beck's story, as well as learning a wealth of information about the burgeoning beaver community in Britain, brought back from extinction for over 400 years after beavers from Norway were released first in Scotland, then in other parts of Britain.
Catherine Ward's geographical knowledge and passion for conservation shine through in the pages of this book, as does Phoebe Rose's love of the landscapes and nature of Scotland. As well as information woven into the text, there's a whole section in the end matter with a range of information about beavers, making this a valuable opportunity for children to engage in fiction and non-fiction in one book. There's much to engage young readers and delight them in the wonders of the natural world.
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Narrative non-fiction at its finest - a MUST BUY!
By the Beaver Pool is narrative non-fiction at its finest - a majestic picture book, which I absolutely loved reading and poring over. The tale of Beck - and the beavers - relocating to her Grandma’s farm in Scotland (and the contrasting emotions that accompany the fresh start) is captivating and heartwarming. Catherine Ward’s text is clever, sensitive, wonderful writing, which expertly weaves intriguing information about beavers into the characters’ dialogue, which, somehow, never feels forced, only natural - testament to the author’s storytelling skill.
Paired perfectly with the text, Phoebe Roze’s illustrations are sublime, and her atmospheric artwork is befitting of the grandeur and beauty of Scotland’s scenery.
This is a book worthy of a place on any child’s bookshelf.... Read Full Review
