Five Busy Beavers

In what’s essentially a woodsy, rodent-themed take on the “Five Little Monkeys” nursery rhyme, Grasso follows the building efforts of five beavers that gnaw down trees to build a dam, despite their dwindling numbers (“Along came a turtle, who wanted to play./ And one little beaver waddled away”). Grasso’s rhymes aren’t always very imaginative, but they hit their marks and make for bouncy reading (“Four busy beavers chewing on some wood,/ chopping down trees as fast as they could”). Battuz creates an appealing cast of dumpling-shaped, easily distracted beavers, setting their hard work (and play) in a welcoming, multitextured woodland landscape. A collection of facts about beavers, herons, fireflies, and other animals from the story close out a cheerful tale that concludes with a surprise housewarming party for the “one tired beaver” who stuck around to finish the job. Ages 3–8. (Mar.)