I Am a Beaver

I Am a Beaver, an inviting board book, takes readers on an informational journey with an adorable family of beavers! It is geared towards a younger audience but still shares factual information throughout, such as the beavers’ habitat, how they build their lodges, their physical features and hardworking nature.

The artwork is bright but stays within an inviting, warm colour palette. Throughout the book, it looks as if readers are following the beavers through the forest on a warm autumn day. Although not mentioned in the text, children will love to take notice of all the other animals found within the illustrations. These include loons, a family of deer, a wolf, a skunk, ducks swimming by, a fox, a heron, an owl sitting in a tree, a red fox, a moose wading in the water, a rabbit watching the beavers build, a woodpecker and even a bear cub climbing a tree. Paul Covello captures a Northern Canadian forest while still focusing heavily on the daily life of the beavers.

The text is also printed using various shades of autumn colours, such as red, blue and brown. Almost all of the text is written in the same font and font size; however, there is an exception when onomatopoeia is occasionally used. Some examples include, “Ker-splash!” as the beaver slaps his tail on the water or “Gnaw! Crunch! Munch!” as the beaver bites into a tree. These words are written in a larger size and in uppercase lettering and contribute to the book’s interactive, playful feel. Overall, I Am a Beaver is an endearing informational read- aloud celebrating the beloved beaver amid other adorable friends in the forest.