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Superpower Field Guide
Beavers: A Laugh-Out-Loud Superhero Field Guide for Kids (Ages 8-12) about Nature's Most Extraordinary Rodents
Beavers, the first book in the new middle-grade nonfiction Superhero Field Guide series by Rachel Poliquin and award-winning illustrator Nicholas John Frith, is a delightfully informative, laugh-out-loud full-color look at the most unsuspecting of animal heroes, perfect for readers who like their facts served with a large dose of humor.
Meet Elmer, an ordinary beaver. He may not be as mighty as a lion or as dangerous as a shark. He may be squat and brown. But never underestimate a beaver.
I can almost hear you saying, "But aren't beavers just lumpy rodents with buck teeth and funny flat tails?"
Yes, they are! And believe it or not, those buck teeth and funny flat tails are just a few of the things that make beavers extraordinary.
Humorous and engaging, Beavers is the first book in the new highly illustrated nonfiction Superpower Field Guide series, inspiring readers to laugh, think, and view the world around them with new eyes.
Meet Elmer, an ordinary beaver. He may not be as mighty as a lion or as dangerous as a shark. He may be squat and brown. But never underestimate a beaver.
I can almost hear you saying, "But aren't beavers just lumpy rodents with buck teeth and funny flat tails?"
Yes, they are! And believe it or not, those buck teeth and funny flat tails are just a few of the things that make beavers extraordinary.
Humorous and engaging, Beavers is the first book in the new highly illustrated nonfiction Superpower Field Guide series, inspiring readers to laugh, think, and view the world around them with new eyes.
134 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 4, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
March 23, 2018
Here, sit down a sec. I wanna tell you a story about this beaver I once knew. So I’m at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, which, if anyone asks, is my favorite zoo. I know it’s not as big and impressive as some of the others out there, but its doable, right? First off, it’s free and then if you want to you can see all kinds of great animals in a short amount of time in a walkable space. What’s not to love? I’m with my kids and we’re going through the exhibits, and we come to a building where you have a clear view of an area that’s both above and below the water. And frolicking (I have to say frolicking because there honestly was no other way to describe it) is a beaver. A big, incredibly happy, to judge by its actions, beaver. With movements so lithe and liquid, we immediately assumed it was some kind of gargantuan otter, but there’s no mistaking that tail and those teeth. And to be perfectly honest, as I watched it cavort with a grace that belied its bulky bod, I had to sit down and come to grips with the fact that I don’t know a heck of a lot about beavers, aside from the ones in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. If pressed I could have told you that they build dams and chop down trees with their teeth. But is there any particular reason to know more than that? Turns out, that happy beaver dude was just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. So says the first book in the Superhero Field Guide series, Beavers, which turns out to be the most inventive, fun, and downright delightful science title I’ve had the pleasure to read in a long time. Beavers! Who knew?
Have you ever watched an episode of Wild Kratts on PBS? It’s a show that talks about the “amazing creature powers” of animals in the wild. Well, in the Superpower Field Guide series, the books do very much the same thing, but for an older audience a.k.a. those kids that may have watched the Wild Kratts show when they were younger and outgrew it but still love wildlife. And what better animal to begin with than the beaver? This seemingly innocuous animal is chock full of fascinating aspects and qualities. Some of these you may be familiar with. They see underwater so well, and you knew that, but were you aware it was because they actually had a transparent eyelid (or nictitating membrane) to protect their eyes? Built in goggles? And you probably knew that they gnaw on trees to bring them down, but were you aware that beavers actually eat parts of those trees while they gnaw? Multitasking! Consistently throughout this book, Rachel Poliquin pulls a seemingly endless string of fascinating facts about the beaver out of her hat. For example, why did Europe go crazy for beaver hats in the past? Because the waterproof skins never loose their shape (think Pilgrim hats or Napoleon’s hat and suddenly everything falls into place). Accompanying Poliquin’s words are Nicholas John Frith’s peppy pictures, which give the entire enterprise a retro 50s look and feel. As enjoyable to read as it is to view, this book will make a beaver convert out of any kid reader. Gnaw doubt about it
(I am . . . SO sorry for that).
What sort of kills me with this book is that I’ve already Rodney Dangerfielded it. Which is to say, I’m working on the assumption that it isn’t going to get enough respect. Though Frith’s art and the design of the cover were enough to lure me into a deep read, what about the kids that aren’t majorly into animals? Look at it another way. What kinds of nonfiction win big children’s literature awards? The bulk (not all, but the bulk) goes to biographies. People. People make for good stories. I’m a person. You’re a person. We relate to people better than critters, and this book is set squarely in critter territory. And yet, one of the many marks of great writing is an ability to engage the reader and make them feel passionate about the material, regardless of its content. Whether you're writing about toads or toadstools, the book needs to have some kind of pull. That’s where Poliquin shines. It isn’t enough that the material has interesting facts. It’s how she lays them out, how she binds them to the swell and flow of the story, and how she honest-to-goodness finds a way to build to a crescendo. The great secret of Beavers is that it ends on a high note. You learn, by the end of the book, the world’s craziest fact about beavers and how they prepare for winter. I don’t want to spoil it so I won’t say anything more, but you’re going to read this book and then afterwards find yourself accosting strangers on the street saying, “DO YOU KNOW WHAT BEAVERS DO IN THE WINTER? DO YOU?!?” Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
You don’t believe me. I can’t blame you. It seems odd. So at the risk of ruining some of the surprise of the book, I’m going to let you in on a couple beaver facts. At this point my respect for Poliquin’s writing is such that I honestly believe she could make the common fruit fly interesting, but her subject in this particular case really is remarkable. Here, I’ll give you one of the most interesting beaver facts here as a final example (don’t want to give away too much). Consider a beaver dam. The beaver has taken down a lot of the surrounding trees, and because those trees were next to the water, it didn’t have to drag them very far. Now what if the beaver wants trees a little farther away? Will it just gnaw them down and then drag them over land? Nope. Instead, it will dig a trench from the lake or river where it lives to the desirable tree trunks. Once the canal is there it takes down the tree, drops it into the canal, and then pulls it in the water back to the dam. This is problem solving at its most genius. Sorry crows, gorillas, and polar bears. I’m thoroughly convinced that beavers will end up ruling us all.
You know why I like kids so much? They’re honest. Horribly, bluntly, frighteningly honest in their preferences. They say don’t judge a book by its cover but come on, man. We all do it. Adults just lie about it half the time. Not a kid. As a former children’s librarian I can attest to that glazed look a kid’s eyes get when you show them a book with an awful cover. They can be polite as they try to explain to you that this isn’t really their “kind of book”, but you know what they’re really saying. Heck, half the time I’d hide the book behind my back while booktalking it, just so they wouldn’t judge it too soon. No need to do that with Beavers, though. The idea to give it that kooky 50s game show spin on the art was inspired. Whoever thought to tap Nicholas John Frith to do the illustrations knew what they were on about. His thick black lines and relentless cheer gives the whole operation this fun and funny feel. But even better than that is the book’s design. We, as consumers, spend an insignificant speck of our gray matter considering the designers of the books we read, but frequently they’re the whole reason we pick up something because it “looks interesting”. Bad design can sink even the most thrilling topic, and good design? You’re looking at it in Beavers, baby. You know how adults are convinced that kids love infographics as much as they do? It’s a lie. Kids hate ‘em. What they love are books designed with a fun presentation of facts in mind. It’s just an added bonus that the writing’s good enough to match, honestly.
In spite of that beaver I spotted at the Lincoln Park Zoo, I didn’t really go all in on beavers until this book, and that’s the god’s own truth. Is it perfect? Is anything? I don’t even know what the standard rate of comparison would be at this point. Has there ever even been a truly extraordinary nonfiction book about beavers for kids between the ages of nine and twelve before? I mean, the very concept strikes you as silly, right? And yet here we are. This is a book that sets you up to want to know more about its subject matter, while at the same time satisfying any questions you didn't know to ask. Beavers make for good books. Poliquin’s writing and Frith’s art do the subject matter justice. And child readers will, as one, become beaver enthusiasts (and possible nature conservationists as well) as a result. Yeah. I just wrote an incredibly long review about a beaver book. Better pick it up. If you do, you’ll understand.
On shelves December 4th.
Have you ever watched an episode of Wild Kratts on PBS? It’s a show that talks about the “amazing creature powers” of animals in the wild. Well, in the Superpower Field Guide series, the books do very much the same thing, but for an older audience a.k.a. those kids that may have watched the Wild Kratts show when they were younger and outgrew it but still love wildlife. And what better animal to begin with than the beaver? This seemingly innocuous animal is chock full of fascinating aspects and qualities. Some of these you may be familiar with. They see underwater so well, and you knew that, but were you aware it was because they actually had a transparent eyelid (or nictitating membrane) to protect their eyes? Built in goggles? And you probably knew that they gnaw on trees to bring them down, but were you aware that beavers actually eat parts of those trees while they gnaw? Multitasking! Consistently throughout this book, Rachel Poliquin pulls a seemingly endless string of fascinating facts about the beaver out of her hat. For example, why did Europe go crazy for beaver hats in the past? Because the waterproof skins never loose their shape (think Pilgrim hats or Napoleon’s hat and suddenly everything falls into place). Accompanying Poliquin’s words are Nicholas John Frith’s peppy pictures, which give the entire enterprise a retro 50s look and feel. As enjoyable to read as it is to view, this book will make a beaver convert out of any kid reader. Gnaw doubt about it
(I am . . . SO sorry for that).
What sort of kills me with this book is that I’ve already Rodney Dangerfielded it. Which is to say, I’m working on the assumption that it isn’t going to get enough respect. Though Frith’s art and the design of the cover were enough to lure me into a deep read, what about the kids that aren’t majorly into animals? Look at it another way. What kinds of nonfiction win big children’s literature awards? The bulk (not all, but the bulk) goes to biographies. People. People make for good stories. I’m a person. You’re a person. We relate to people better than critters, and this book is set squarely in critter territory. And yet, one of the many marks of great writing is an ability to engage the reader and make them feel passionate about the material, regardless of its content. Whether you're writing about toads or toadstools, the book needs to have some kind of pull. That’s where Poliquin shines. It isn’t enough that the material has interesting facts. It’s how she lays them out, how she binds them to the swell and flow of the story, and how she honest-to-goodness finds a way to build to a crescendo. The great secret of Beavers is that it ends on a high note. You learn, by the end of the book, the world’s craziest fact about beavers and how they prepare for winter. I don’t want to spoil it so I won’t say anything more, but you’re going to read this book and then afterwards find yourself accosting strangers on the street saying, “DO YOU KNOW WHAT BEAVERS DO IN THE WINTER? DO YOU?!?” Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
You don’t believe me. I can’t blame you. It seems odd. So at the risk of ruining some of the surprise of the book, I’m going to let you in on a couple beaver facts. At this point my respect for Poliquin’s writing is such that I honestly believe she could make the common fruit fly interesting, but her subject in this particular case really is remarkable. Here, I’ll give you one of the most interesting beaver facts here as a final example (don’t want to give away too much). Consider a beaver dam. The beaver has taken down a lot of the surrounding trees, and because those trees were next to the water, it didn’t have to drag them very far. Now what if the beaver wants trees a little farther away? Will it just gnaw them down and then drag them over land? Nope. Instead, it will dig a trench from the lake or river where it lives to the desirable tree trunks. Once the canal is there it takes down the tree, drops it into the canal, and then pulls it in the water back to the dam. This is problem solving at its most genius. Sorry crows, gorillas, and polar bears. I’m thoroughly convinced that beavers will end up ruling us all.
You know why I like kids so much? They’re honest. Horribly, bluntly, frighteningly honest in their preferences. They say don’t judge a book by its cover but come on, man. We all do it. Adults just lie about it half the time. Not a kid. As a former children’s librarian I can attest to that glazed look a kid’s eyes get when you show them a book with an awful cover. They can be polite as they try to explain to you that this isn’t really their “kind of book”, but you know what they’re really saying. Heck, half the time I’d hide the book behind my back while booktalking it, just so they wouldn’t judge it too soon. No need to do that with Beavers, though. The idea to give it that kooky 50s game show spin on the art was inspired. Whoever thought to tap Nicholas John Frith to do the illustrations knew what they were on about. His thick black lines and relentless cheer gives the whole operation this fun and funny feel. But even better than that is the book’s design. We, as consumers, spend an insignificant speck of our gray matter considering the designers of the books we read, but frequently they’re the whole reason we pick up something because it “looks interesting”. Bad design can sink even the most thrilling topic, and good design? You’re looking at it in Beavers, baby. You know how adults are convinced that kids love infographics as much as they do? It’s a lie. Kids hate ‘em. What they love are books designed with a fun presentation of facts in mind. It’s just an added bonus that the writing’s good enough to match, honestly.
In spite of that beaver I spotted at the Lincoln Park Zoo, I didn’t really go all in on beavers until this book, and that’s the god’s own truth. Is it perfect? Is anything? I don’t even know what the standard rate of comparison would be at this point. Has there ever even been a truly extraordinary nonfiction book about beavers for kids between the ages of nine and twelve before? I mean, the very concept strikes you as silly, right? And yet here we are. This is a book that sets you up to want to know more about its subject matter, while at the same time satisfying any questions you didn't know to ask. Beavers make for good books. Poliquin’s writing and Frith’s art do the subject matter justice. And child readers will, as one, become beaver enthusiasts (and possible nature conservationists as well) as a result. Yeah. I just wrote an incredibly long review about a beaver book. Better pick it up. If you do, you’ll understand.
On shelves December 4th.
September 16, 2018
I read an advance reading copy of this book.
I love this book! I will purchase this for my library, my nieces, my friends' kids,etc. I actually read the entire book out loud to my husband, and HE ENJOYED IT. I am a person who loves the idea of reading non-fiction, but I have a hard time doing it. I like the facts, but not the pace of the book. This book gave me all the facts, was hilarious, and kept up a great pace. I can't wait to see what other field guides come out. I fully intend to read them aloud too.
It was a pleasure spending time with Elmer and Irma Beaver. I wish them all the best in their soggy-boggy wonderland.
I love this book! I will purchase this for my library, my nieces, my friends' kids,etc. I actually read the entire book out loud to my husband, and HE ENJOYED IT. I am a person who loves the idea of reading non-fiction, but I have a hard time doing it. I like the facts, but not the pace of the book. This book gave me all the facts, was hilarious, and kept up a great pace. I can't wait to see what other field guides come out. I fully intend to read them aloud too.
It was a pleasure spending time with Elmer and Irma Beaver. I wish them all the best in their soggy-boggy wonderland.
April 10, 2019
I love the retro style of this book. Packed with lots of information but presented in such a way that kids won't be bored by it. Great for ages 8-12.
September 2, 2020
Once upon a time, nerdy freshman Annalise bought someone a beaver skull, and had her friend Sam deliver it to that someone. Don't ask me why. Honestly I have no answer. ANYWAY THIS BOOK WAS REALLY COOL and I learned so much about beavers. They are truly amazing animals and I feel like that beaver skull moment has been redeemed
March 14, 2019
This was fun and absolutely fascinating!
May 24, 2024
Very informative, interesting, and humorous. Would highly recommend!
June 13, 2019
Kids in grades 4-6 who enjoy graphic novels or are animal lovers will gobble up this hilarious field guide and clamor for more volumes! The narrator’s voice is funny and engaging, providing a wealth of information while making it all entertaining and easy to understand. The information is broken up into chapters, organized by superpower (important features of the beaver such as its teeth, tail, and more), interspersed with quizzes, maps, and diagrams of the beaver’s body. The comic-style ink, pencil, and crayon illustrations are very appealing and employ a limited, nature-inspired color palette that was added digitally. This first book in a sure-to-be popular series hints that the next field guide will feature moles. Any library looking to build their graphic novel collection, especially in regards to nonfiction topics, should consider purchasing this title.
December 27, 2018
So earlier this year I read "Eager: The Surprising Secret Life of Beavers and Why they Matter by Ben Goldfarb," and it was fascinating and made a compelling case for why beavers are so important. I really enjoyed it.
This book was just like it, except for the addition of jaunty illustrations, an extra-large heaping dose of humor, and it comes in at less than a third of the size. It packs in so much information about beavers, their biology, history, and their place in our world, and yet it never gets dry or dull. I loved this.
But my favorite part comes on page 74, which offers a place for readers to illustrate and color their own beaver landscape. The note at the bottom should delight librarians everywhere.
I can't wait for the next in this series.
This book was just like it, except for the addition of jaunty illustrations, an extra-large heaping dose of humor, and it comes in at less than a third of the size. It packs in so much information about beavers, their biology, history, and their place in our world, and yet it never gets dry or dull. I loved this.
But my favorite part comes on page 74, which offers a place for readers to illustrate and color their own beaver landscape. The note at the bottom should delight librarians everywhere.
I can't wait for the next in this series.
March 18, 2019
If only all learning could be this fun! This nonfiction book about beavers could have been as dry as a bone, but it isn't. The focus of the book is on the animal's 'superpowers' or as the Wild Kratts might say, 'creature powers'. Combining text and visuals in a seamless way, Poliquin and Frith have created a thoroughly engaging book about beavers. The book is divided into ten sections. Each section focuses on one superpower such as chainsaw teeth, unstoppable fur, and paws of power. The cartoon-like illustrations add to the amusing tone of the book, but the information is accurate and fascinating. I learned things I didn't know about beavers. If only all nonfiction could be this much fun!
March 6, 2019
My son said to give it sixteen stars! He thinks five is not enough. The author has a PhD in the history of science and obviously knows her stuff, but she's very funny and accessible for kids. Literally the whole family enjoyed this book.
January 14, 2019
Why we chose this book:
We have been on a nature kick lately, we recently saw a beaver-felled tree at the EcoTarium, and we are newly interested in wetlands since reading Fun in the Mud. Elmer is advertised as a "wetlands warrior," which is part of what caught my attention. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt provided a review copy.
Mom's Review (V)
An entertaining, engaging, informative book about beavers.
It's the tone and artwork that set this book apart from other informational animal books. The style, as you see from the cover, is that of 50's and 60's advertisements, which I really like! And the tone is that of someone trying to sell you on this critter. Divided into sections based on "superpower," readers acquire a wealth of knowledge about the beaver, from his ever-growing orange teeth to his poop-eating habits to how he can build a dam visible from space. Language and tone keep kids' attention, and quizzes throughout keep them on their toes. And if you happen to watch Lady and the Tramp after reading this, you'll be able to point out that the beaver who bites off Lady's muzzle has teeth the wrong color! Can you guess what movie we watched for movie night?
In addition to the writing and art style, what I like so much about Beavers is the level of detail imparted by the narrator who directly addresses the audience. As you might expect in conversation, the narrator seems to follow tangents, but really she is imparting more information about beavers. T and I both enjoy learning about animals, but this book was more than merely informative. I never thought I'd say this about a book on North American beavers, but the book is fascinating and fun! Awesome, awesome way to expand our understanding of the natural world! (And we learned how the beaver is a wetlands warrior -- it's always a plus to relate our reading to other books!)
With T, I read portions, paraphrased, and answers questions related to pictures and bolded phrases as we paged through. No surprise here, but his favorite part was the poop-eating part. Beavers need to digest the wood they eat several times, so they have to eat their own poop. Gross! And super awesome to a four-year-old! This is ideal for children a bit older (it's aimed at ages 7-10), but totally doable for a younger audience.
Son's Review (T)
(Age: almost 4 years old)
Mom: Can you tell me about the book?
Son: It's about Elmers but not main Elmer. Main Elmer is in a different story. This is all about his family.
Mom: Who is Main Elmer?
Son: Main Elmer is who's on the cover. He's teaching you about his family.
(This book is actually also about Elmer.)
Mom: What are some cool things you learned? My favorite was that they have orange teeth. I hadn't known that.
Son: I liked learning that the beavers do super stinky things.
Mom: What do beavers eat? What kind of tree would you want to eat if you were a beaver?
Son: Trees. Cherry!
Mom: What superpower would you want?
Son: Size! Does he eat poop?
(I really hope that these are unrelated thoughts!)
Mom: Yes he does. It has to go through his body a few times.
Mom: Would you want to see a beaver? What would you want to see him do? Why?
Son: I would. Yeah. Eat its poop! [and] Flick his tail. 'Cuz I think that's interesting.
Mom: Do you remember what it means when he does that with his tail?.
Son: No.
Mom: Doesn't it send some kind of message?
Son: Danger!
Mom: That's right!
And you already know his favorite part without an "official" review question. It's the poop eating. Yuck!
We have been on a nature kick lately, we recently saw a beaver-felled tree at the EcoTarium, and we are newly interested in wetlands since reading Fun in the Mud. Elmer is advertised as a "wetlands warrior," which is part of what caught my attention. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt provided a review copy.
Mom's Review (V)
An entertaining, engaging, informative book about beavers.
It's the tone and artwork that set this book apart from other informational animal books. The style, as you see from the cover, is that of 50's and 60's advertisements, which I really like! And the tone is that of someone trying to sell you on this critter. Divided into sections based on "superpower," readers acquire a wealth of knowledge about the beaver, from his ever-growing orange teeth to his poop-eating habits to how he can build a dam visible from space. Language and tone keep kids' attention, and quizzes throughout keep them on their toes. And if you happen to watch Lady and the Tramp after reading this, you'll be able to point out that the beaver who bites off Lady's muzzle has teeth the wrong color! Can you guess what movie we watched for movie night?
In addition to the writing and art style, what I like so much about Beavers is the level of detail imparted by the narrator who directly addresses the audience. As you might expect in conversation, the narrator seems to follow tangents, but really she is imparting more information about beavers. T and I both enjoy learning about animals, but this book was more than merely informative. I never thought I'd say this about a book on North American beavers, but the book is fascinating and fun! Awesome, awesome way to expand our understanding of the natural world! (And we learned how the beaver is a wetlands warrior -- it's always a plus to relate our reading to other books!)
With T, I read portions, paraphrased, and answers questions related to pictures and bolded phrases as we paged through. No surprise here, but his favorite part was the poop-eating part. Beavers need to digest the wood they eat several times, so they have to eat their own poop. Gross! And super awesome to a four-year-old! This is ideal for children a bit older (it's aimed at ages 7-10), but totally doable for a younger audience.
Son's Review (T)
(Age: almost 4 years old)
Mom: Can you tell me about the book?
Son: It's about Elmers but not main Elmer. Main Elmer is in a different story. This is all about his family.
Mom: Who is Main Elmer?
Son: Main Elmer is who's on the cover. He's teaching you about his family.
(This book is actually also about Elmer.)
Mom: What are some cool things you learned? My favorite was that they have orange teeth. I hadn't known that.
Son: I liked learning that the beavers do super stinky things.
Mom: What do beavers eat? What kind of tree would you want to eat if you were a beaver?
Son: Trees. Cherry!
Mom: What superpower would you want?
Son: Size! Does he eat poop?
(I really hope that these are unrelated thoughts!)
Mom: Yes he does. It has to go through his body a few times.
Mom: Would you want to see a beaver? What would you want to see him do? Why?
Son: I would. Yeah. Eat its poop! [and] Flick his tail. 'Cuz I think that's interesting.
Mom: Do you remember what it means when he does that with his tail?.
Son: No.
Mom: Doesn't it send some kind of message?
Son: Danger!
Mom: That's right!
And you already know his favorite part without an "official" review question. It's the poop eating. Yuck!
June 1, 2019
Did I have any real interest in beavers heading into this? No. Did I enjoy the heck out of learning about them anyway? Abso-heckin-lutely. It reads like a "sit down so i can learn u a thing" tumblr post. There was one comment about how confusing it is that male and female beavers are externally indistinguishable that I didn't care for, however. Would love to see this grow as a series.
January 28, 2023
Giggle all you want, Foxenfriends, beavers are freaking awesome creatures!
This came with our library curriculum crate: local flora and fauna. The book is so well written for its intended audience (and I loved it as well)! Informative, funny, fascinating!
Go Beavers! 🦫
This came with our library curriculum crate: local flora and fauna. The book is so well written for its intended audience (and I loved it as well)! Informative, funny, fascinating!
Go Beavers! 🦫
October 26, 2020
"FIRST OFF, ELMER CAN HOLD his breath underwater for fifteen minutes.
What? You don't think that's impressive?
Okay. Did you know Elmer was born with swimming goggles? That's right. Elmer has transparent eyelids that cover his eyeballs when he is underwater. They don't close up and down, like your eyelids, but sideways across his eyeballs. (Elmer still has eyelids like yours that close when he sleeps.) Scientists call them nictitating membranes, but I call them UNDERWATER GOGGLE GREATNESS!"
- p. 40
Oh, goodness. Couldn't put this down.
Poliquin's writing voice is charming as she draws the reader in with manageable chunks of information woven into big ideas. Poliquin's voice, humor, style make this perfect for an INTERACTIVE READ ALOUD with students--a chapter or two at a time. As needed, place on the doc camera or project in some way for students to view. And if they love this one, there are three more in this series (as of 2020) that they can pick up and read on their own.
GREAT MENTOR TEXT FOR WRITING WORKSHOP- Lots of craft to discuss - Poliquin's voice, humor, the layout and design of the book, the choice of facts to include in each chapter, etc.
I'd PAIR with a more straightforward text about beavers so students can see the contrast AND so they can add to their knowledge. Since Poliquin ends the book by talking (briefly) about the beaver's role as a keystone species, you might read aloud, or recommend to student readers, At Home with the Beaver: The Story of a Keystone Species (Dorothy Hinshaw Patent, 2019). After getting to know Elmer in the superpower field guide, students may be a lot more invested in more traditional books (like Patent's) about an animal they've come to love and admire.
What? You don't think that's impressive?
Okay. Did you know Elmer was born with swimming goggles? That's right. Elmer has transparent eyelids that cover his eyeballs when he is underwater. They don't close up and down, like your eyelids, but sideways across his eyeballs. (Elmer still has eyelids like yours that close when he sleeps.) Scientists call them nictitating membranes, but I call them UNDERWATER GOGGLE GREATNESS!"
- p. 40
Oh, goodness. Couldn't put this down.
Poliquin's writing voice is charming as she draws the reader in with manageable chunks of information woven into big ideas. Poliquin's voice, humor, style make this perfect for an INTERACTIVE READ ALOUD with students--a chapter or two at a time. As needed, place on the doc camera or project in some way for students to view. And if they love this one, there are three more in this series (as of 2020) that they can pick up and read on their own.
GREAT MENTOR TEXT FOR WRITING WORKSHOP- Lots of craft to discuss - Poliquin's voice, humor, the layout and design of the book, the choice of facts to include in each chapter, etc.
I'd PAIR with a more straightforward text about beavers so students can see the contrast AND so they can add to their knowledge. Since Poliquin ends the book by talking (briefly) about the beaver's role as a keystone species, you might read aloud, or recommend to student readers, At Home with the Beaver: The Story of a Keystone Species (Dorothy Hinshaw Patent, 2019). After getting to know Elmer in the superpower field guide, students may be a lot more invested in more traditional books (like Patent's) about an animal they've come to love and admire.
July 23, 2022
Rachel Poliquin is my superhero. Where most other children's nonfiction writers merely list facts, she brings entire worlds to life. (See also: Holling Clancy Holling.) Beavers is filled to overflowing* with beaver facts, but you barely even notice how much you're learning, because reading this book is such a thrilling adventure. It'll even make you laugh!
Poliquin has a rare gift for breaking down complex information into bite-size chunks* that even five-year-olds can digest. And she never needs to talk down to the reader, introducing scientific terms along the way without breaking stride. The Superpower Field Guides and Polite Predators books are logically structured, with repetition in all the right places to help cement the newly learned material. These books reliably hit that sweet spot of relatable, informational, and entertaining storytelling, perfectly accompanied by lots of fun and educational illustrations.
This is what kids' nonfiction should be: the kind of book you'll want to read over and over, with information that stays with you forever, because it made you feel like you were right there, building a lodge alongside a family of beaver engineers.
I have made it my "job" to find great reading material for the kids in my life, and Poliquin's books always make the list of titles that the kiddos (ages 4-9) ask me to bring. (A few of my other greatest hits, for children of varying ages: Bathtime for Chickies + The Book with No Pictures + I'm Just No Good at Rhyming: And Other Nonsense for Mischievous Kids and Immature Grown-Ups.)
* (Hah! see what I did there?... If you don't: read this book!)
Poliquin has a rare gift for breaking down complex information into bite-size chunks* that even five-year-olds can digest. And she never needs to talk down to the reader, introducing scientific terms along the way without breaking stride. The Superpower Field Guides and Polite Predators books are logically structured, with repetition in all the right places to help cement the newly learned material. These books reliably hit that sweet spot of relatable, informational, and entertaining storytelling, perfectly accompanied by lots of fun and educational illustrations.
This is what kids' nonfiction should be: the kind of book you'll want to read over and over, with information that stays with you forever, because it made you feel like you were right there, building a lodge alongside a family of beaver engineers.
I have made it my "job" to find great reading material for the kids in my life, and Poliquin's books always make the list of titles that the kiddos (ages 4-9) ask me to bring. (A few of my other greatest hits, for children of varying ages: Bathtime for Chickies + The Book with No Pictures + I'm Just No Good at Rhyming: And Other Nonsense for Mischievous Kids and Immature Grown-Ups.)
* (Hah! see what I did there?... If you don't: read this book!)
May 8, 2019
Title: Beavers (Superpower Field Guide)
Author: Rachel Poliquin
Target: Grades 2-6
Series: This is the first book in a four-part series which will include moles, ostriches, and anteaters
What this book is about:
If you guessed beavers, well then I would say you are well informed. Rachel Poliquin shares all the qualities that make a beaver a superhero. From chainsaw teeth and ever-toiling tails to hydro powered building brilliance and subaquatic winter siege survival skills, the beaver kills it. Readers will learn about how the beaver builds his home, gets supplies and feeds itself in winter months. His unstoppable fur and paws of power are also featured. Readers will never look at beavers the same way again.
Why I love this book:
The illustrations by Nicholas John Frith are retro and delightful. They play perfectly with the approach of the author. Rachel Poliquin writes in a pithy style that feels more like a fun conversation than a lecture. Kids will quickly move through a plethora of information while being utterly entertained.
I appreciated the author’s attempt at gender neutrality. She does stop the book midway to let readers know that while our fictional beaver Elmer is the hero of the story, his mate Irma could easily replace him. In fact, if she hadn’t identified Elmer, you would be hard pressed to figure out if you were looking at Elmer or Irma!
I appreciated not only know more about the beaver but also about the beaver’s place in the ecosystem. This book may only be 96 pages, with plenty of illustrations, but readers will come away with lots of knowledge.
Who this book is for:
Great nonfiction choice for all kids. The information is delivered in a fun and comical way, which will entice even kids who may not think they like nonfiction
Final thoughts:
I loved finding out the origin of the “Mad Hatter”. But I’m not giving anything away here. Have to read the book to find out.
Author: Rachel Poliquin
Target: Grades 2-6
Series: This is the first book in a four-part series which will include moles, ostriches, and anteaters
What this book is about:
If you guessed beavers, well then I would say you are well informed. Rachel Poliquin shares all the qualities that make a beaver a superhero. From chainsaw teeth and ever-toiling tails to hydro powered building brilliance and subaquatic winter siege survival skills, the beaver kills it. Readers will learn about how the beaver builds his home, gets supplies and feeds itself in winter months. His unstoppable fur and paws of power are also featured. Readers will never look at beavers the same way again.
Why I love this book:
The illustrations by Nicholas John Frith are retro and delightful. They play perfectly with the approach of the author. Rachel Poliquin writes in a pithy style that feels more like a fun conversation than a lecture. Kids will quickly move through a plethora of information while being utterly entertained.
I appreciated the author’s attempt at gender neutrality. She does stop the book midway to let readers know that while our fictional beaver Elmer is the hero of the story, his mate Irma could easily replace him. In fact, if she hadn’t identified Elmer, you would be hard pressed to figure out if you were looking at Elmer or Irma!
I appreciated not only know more about the beaver but also about the beaver’s place in the ecosystem. This book may only be 96 pages, with plenty of illustrations, but readers will come away with lots of knowledge.
Who this book is for:
Great nonfiction choice for all kids. The information is delivered in a fun and comical way, which will entice even kids who may not think they like nonfiction
Final thoughts:
I loved finding out the origin of the “Mad Hatter”. But I’m not giving anything away here. Have to read the book to find out.
February 4, 2019
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is such a beautiful and clever book for children. The illustrations are a wonderful touch to this nonfiction, hardcover book. There’s everything you could possibly want to know (some not so much) about a beaver and his life, body, incredible abilities, breeding, habitat and yes, his superpowers.
I would recommend this book to anyone curious about the little rodents that are the talk of Canada, and other places. A great resource book for early middle-graders and chapter book readers. Libraries in schools would benefit greatly by having this added to their reference books. It’s all about what makes beavers extraordinary.
I found this book enlightening, educational, fun to read, humorous, informative with great illustrations to add to the adventure.
This is the first book in the Superpower Field Guide series.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is such a beautiful and clever book for children. The illustrations are a wonderful touch to this nonfiction, hardcover book. There’s everything you could possibly want to know (some not so much) about a beaver and his life, body, incredible abilities, breeding, habitat and yes, his superpowers.
I would recommend this book to anyone curious about the little rodents that are the talk of Canada, and other places. A great resource book for early middle-graders and chapter book readers. Libraries in schools would benefit greatly by having this added to their reference books. It’s all about what makes beavers extraordinary.
I found this book enlightening, educational, fun to read, humorous, informative with great illustrations to add to the adventure.
This is the first book in the Superpower Field Guide series.
June 16, 2019
An illustrated guide to what makes beavers super.
This was a very engagingly written and illustrated look at beavers, their attributes, and their abilities. The narrator's voice has a touch of humor and is just gushing with excitement about what beavers can do. Readers learn about everything from their teeth and eyes to fur and tail to their construction methods, and impact on their ecosystems. There's some information about past human-beaver interactions, and a look at how beavers are hoped to help humans in the future. A highly readable and super-informative book that is so entertainingly put together you forget you're learning as you read. Looking forward to the next book in this series from Poliquin. Highly recommended to curious middle grade readers, animal lovers, and kids who think nonfiction is boring.
This was a very engagingly written and illustrated look at beavers, their attributes, and their abilities. The narrator's voice has a touch of humor and is just gushing with excitement about what beavers can do. Readers learn about everything from their teeth and eyes to fur and tail to their construction methods, and impact on their ecosystems. There's some information about past human-beaver interactions, and a look at how beavers are hoped to help humans in the future. A highly readable and super-informative book that is so entertainingly put together you forget you're learning as you read. Looking forward to the next book in this series from Poliquin. Highly recommended to curious middle grade readers, animal lovers, and kids who think nonfiction is boring.
January 29, 2020
In a retro style, Rachel Poliquin introduces us to Elmer and Irma Beaver and their many superpowers. The style of the writing and illustrations is very entertaining and kids will laugh while they learn. The examples are so helpful in realizing what beaver anatomy and physiology are like in human terms. I am so delighted with some of the things that I learned about beavers...especially that they can create wetlands ecosystems as a keystone species...which in turn can save the environment! That is so cool.
December 21, 2019
Interesting but also childish at the same time. Well, for me, I enjoyed the silly little pictures the author added to the book. I don't usually read books like this(I lean more to the serious side), but this book is a break for me. I recommend this book to elementary school students, probably under 11 or 12. Older kids might think it's a bit boring~
November 3, 2021
A very cute and informative book for kids on America's favorite rodent. Beavers really are as awesome as the book touts, so I think a copy of this book should be available in every school library. Even adults can learn something just flipping through this (and it provides them with a very brief introduction on beavers). This is a perfect nonfiction read for kids with an interest in ecology.
January 12, 2019
I really appreciated this informative and positive take on beavers, a keystone animal if there ever was one. The drawings were great at showing how dams and lodges are built, etc. and kids probably love comics but I think they also appreciate photography, which this book doesn’t have.
July 12, 2019
This is SO GREAT. The art is fantastic, I learned all sorts of Beavery Facts™ and it's very funny. I will absolutely pick up more in this series, and if you have the slightest interest in animal facts you should definitely give this a try.
August 21, 2019
What a great way to get back into nature. I thought I would breeze right through this book but as it turns out it took about two or three weeks for me to really read it a few pages at a time -- and learn things I never knew. And beavers ARE amazing.
October 29, 2019
Awesome non-fiction book in the Forest of Reading competition.
This book about beavers is very informative but with a humorous spin at every part. My students will enjoy this book, learning more about beavers than ever before.
This book about beavers is very informative but with a humorous spin at every part. My students will enjoy this book, learning more about beavers than ever before.
December 26, 2019
A new non-fiction series that explores the surprising abilities of some of the world’s most underestimated animals.
This is Elmer. An ordinary beaver.
Page 4: “Now I can almost hear you saying” to the end.
Flip to Page 6 and go through superpowers.
This is Elmer. An ordinary beaver.
Page 4: “Now I can almost hear you saying” to the end.
Flip to Page 6 and go through superpowers.
June 8, 2020
Read this with Teddy and it was well written and quite fascinating! Who knew that beavers' anal gland secretion, castoreum, smells like raspberry and vanilla and is used as a food flavoring replacement for vanilla!?!
January 9, 2022
Excellent, funny, engaging text.
I wish it had been paired with photos, however. The Illustrations are clever but I find non-fiction kid readers pick up books in the non-fiction section with high-quality photos.
I wish it had been paired with photos, however. The Illustrations are clever but I find non-fiction kid readers pick up books in the non-fiction section with high-quality photos.
February 14, 2025
Written with a conversational tone and very engaging, this book is packed with information about beavers. I learned a lot! Beavers are really ecologically significant species. We should learn to co-exist with them. Suitable for junior readers with a strong interest.
November 24, 2018
Engaging and entertaining, but best of all: I learned A LOT about this animal! Will definitely check out the whole series when they publish!
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