Get Busy Beaver

by Carolyn Crimi, Janie Bynum (Illustrations)

GET BUSY, BEAVER! is the adorable story of Thelonious Beaver, who doesn't fit in. But as he continues to do the things he loves, the other beavers realize how wonderfully special Thelonious is.

Thelonious isn't like the other beavers. He's a little different.
While Ma, Pa, and Babs Beaver hurry, hurry, hurry to make their dam bigger, bigger, bigger, Thelonious is busy with a project of his own -- a creation so beautiful that it changes everything.

And soon all the beavers in Thelonious's pond join him, as they take a moment to stop and smell the flowers.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2004

About the author

Carolyn Crimi, AKA the Pirate Queen, is the author of numerous books for young readers, including BORIS AND BELLA, illustrated by Gris Grimly. Of HENRY AND THE BUCCANEER BUNNIES, she says, "While I don't have long floppy ears or a pro-nounced overbite, Henry and I are kindred spirits, who love books and carrots!"

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

An attempt to justify the existence of dreamers and artists by showing that what looks like procrastination and lollygagging from the outside is their creativity working overtime on the inside.

Sure.

Now get to work!

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the beaver families are busy rebuilding their dam, Pa, Ma, and Sister Babs, but Thelonious wasn't busy at all. Thelonious was watching the sky, and the birds, and the dragonfly's and smelling the flowers. While the beaver families on both sides of the river were busy, busy, busy, Thelonious was marching to the beat of his own drum.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read that shows us the importance of imagination. The illustrations in this book fly off of the page. I highly recommend this book.

[Elizabeth Menchaca · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beaver family is hard at work rebuilding their dam, they want to have the most impressive dam in the entire river and do it faster than all the other beavers. However,Thelonious is more interested in watching the flowers in the clouds,the ripples that the leaves make in the water and all the other beautiful things nature has to offer. "THELONIOUS GET BUSY!!" His busy family begs him he tries his best to help out but something else catches his attention instead and he begins to have a wonderful idea. Thelonious can't help it so he begins to build his own creation.

Get Busy Beaver is over all a good picture book it has vivid detailed illustrations that cover the entire page and the characters facial expressions are easy to read which is very important to the story since it's told through a third person perspective. The moral of the story was rather nice and very relatable. Thelonious teaches children that everyone is unique in their own way, and that we should embrace our differences and incomparable talents. I thought it was neat how even his name was very different from the rest of his family who were simply Pa', Ma' and Babs kids probably have fun pronouncing his name. Another thing I liked about the story of the beaver family Is that it had a second moral which was that we all need balance in our lives, people should work hard to achieve the things they want but it is also important to actually enjoy life,I think this is a good concept that children should be introduced to early on. Due to its slightly complex morals and more advanced text I believe this is a picture book that mainly older children will enjoy.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

03/16: This has remained a family favorite.

10/08: My little day-dreamers so identify with Thelonius.

Amazon Book Description:
"Get Busy Beaver!" is a book with an interesting lesson written by Carolyn Crimi and with extremely cute and pleasing illustrations by Janie Bynum. In this story, Thelonious Beaver's family is all in "hurry, hurry, hurry" mode to get their dam built, and built big. Well, all except for Thelonious himself, that is. Thelonious just can't seem to get into it. It's not really that he's lazy or anything, it's just that he keeps getting distracted by other things. He stops to watch clouds, to watch the leaves float by, or watch the winking of the fireflies. He's in love with nature --- a dreamer --- but the other beavers are so busy with the dam that they can't seem to appreciate the beauty that's all around them.

Meanwhile, work on the dam continues. It's like it's never done, because it isn't just about their family. They're also in competition with the beavers across the way and so their dam is never good enough. While they slave away, Thelonious gets an idea. It's something that's going to turn everything on its ear, but also something really special.

"Get Busy Beaver" is a wonderful story in a time when many could use a lesson in slowing down and taking the time to enjoy the world. It's not preachy or plodding --- it's just a wonderful little story. Get busy --- read this book now --- either on your own or with kids is fine.

[Emily Goodin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the lessons presented in this book! It shows that even though you work hard, sometimes you have to slow down and enjoy the things around you. It also could open up a discussion on how everything doesn't have to be a competiton! The illustrations in this book were great and I liked the story line! I think it would be appropriate for students in 1-3 grade.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminded me a lot of Frederick - the poet mouse story by Lionni. This and that book and the book, Ish, by Reynolds, are all wonderful ways to support and celebrate the artist in a child.

[Maryanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good option for storytimes - lots of repetition and opportunities to differentiate character voices.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice because it shows how beavers build dams, which is building good science background. Also celebrates a creative dreamer misfit.

[April Thompson Freeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book with a good message about slowing down from your everyday hustle to appreciate the beauty that surrounds you.