When Beavers Move In

by Alison Pearce Stevens, Natasha Donovan - illustrator

When beavers move in, they chew down a tree.
They nibble the bark.
And they drag the branches into a stream.

Beavers topple trees and build dams, which can cause floods and disrupt neighborhoods. So what do we do when beavers move in? In Puget Sound, we call the Tulalip Tribes. They send biologists to help relocate our furry friends to a place far from people, where the beavers can be free.

Poetic text and gorgeous art makes this an irresistible read with gentle STEM tie-in.

Audible Audio

Expected publication March 10, 2026

About the author

Alison Pearce Stevens was a science professor until life took her overseas, at which point she started writing about science and nature for kids, because she’s an educator at heart and had to find new ways to share cool things with the world's most curious people. Alison writes lots of fun nonfiction: articles, picture books, and middle grade books. All of her work is inspired by a love of science and nature. Rhinos in Nebraska (Godwin Books/Henry Holt BYR) was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and won three Nebraska Book Awards. Animal Climate Heroes (Henry Holt) and Detective Dogs are on the Case (Holiday House) release in 2024. You can learn more about Alison at apstevens.com.

Reviews

[Grandma Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the main characters of Beth and Logan. Beth owns the book shop and Logan is the detective. This cozy has it all: murder, other mysteries to solve, burgeoning romance and new friendships. This is the first in a new series and I’m excited to read the next one. It’s set in Scotland and that added to the fun. I enjoyed getting to know the characters. The story was engaging and kept me turning the pages and staying up way too late. Highly recommend.

I was blessed with an ARC.Thank you, NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book about the role of beavers in the eco-system and all the environments they create for other animals. I enjoyed listening to this with my kids. I appreciate the additional context from the author's note.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Young Listeners for an early copy.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beavers are truly crafty critters-- and they're essential to our ecosystem! In this book, readers can learn all about how their handiwork positively impacts the environment... and they sure are adorable, too!