School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-A touch of tension and some gentle humor enliven this brief nature lesson in story form. A beaver has created a pond for himself in a meadow, but many other animals consider it theirs. Striking acrylic paintings show the changing light as the day passes and employ interesting perspectives to display the magnitude of a visiting moose. The illustrations portray the animals mentioned in the text, but alert children will also find other creatures enjoying the pond environment. A note at the end reinforces Arnosky's goal: to show the interdependence of animals within a habitat. Fluid language and large, clear illustrations make this a fine read-aloud for ecology units.-Ellen Heath, Orchard School, Ridgewood, NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
In an anecdotal tone, Arnosky describes a beaver pond and how its many other inhabitants--herons, ducks, and several moose--each regard it as their own, though it is clearly the beaver's domain. Despite the lack of narrative tension, the text effectively portrays how a beaver's dam creates a new habitat where diverse species coexist, and the acrylic paintings add luminous appeal. From HORN BOOK Spring 2001, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Ages 3^-5. Arnosky, known for his books on the natural world, once again shows his enthusiasm for his subject. His brief, quiet text takes children to the watery home of a beaver, whose industriousness has made way for other animals. When daylight comes, a heron, a moose, and ducks visit the pond: it's their territory while the beaver sleeps. But sunset brings the master builder back to claim his home and complete a link in nature's scheme. In broad strokes and (sometimes) iridescent colors, Arnosky imparts the feel of a wild place at peace yet thriving. --Stephanie Zvirin
