• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Key Selling Points

• As beaver populations recover, conflicts between beavers and humans are increasing. This book offers practical solutions that are good for both beavers and humans.
• Recent studies have highlighted the ability of beavers to help mitigate the effects of climate change, particularly drought, flooding and wildfires.
• Beavers are fascinating animals with a high recognition factor (their buckteeth and flat tail are unmistakable) and beaver kits are irresistibly cute.
• The author wrote an adult nonfiction book in 2015 about beavers called Once They Were Hats: In Search of the Mighty Beaver. She’s also the winner of the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize in 2010 for Children of the Klondike.
• There has been a dramatic increase in beaver research by biologists, hydrologists and other scientists over the past decade.

Frances Backhouse studied biology in university and worked as a park naturalist and as a biologist before becoming an environmental journalist and author. Her six previous books include Once They Were Hats: In Search of the Mighty Beaver and Children of the Klondike, which won the 2010 City of Victoria Butler Book Prize. She lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with her partner, Mark Zuehlke, who is also a writer. Frances loves exploring the natural world both close to home and far away, especially when those explorations involve tent-camping. If there’s a beaver habitat nearby, it’s even better.

Frances Backhouse's profile page

• Short-listed, Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award
• Short-listed, Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award
• Nominated, Young Readers' Choice Book Awards of British Columbia (YRCABC) Red Cedar Book Awards
• Short-listed, Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award
• Short-listed, Red Cedar Book Award
• Short-listed, City of Victoria Children's Book Prize
• Commended, BC Books for BC Schools

“A valuable tool to encourage middle grade readers to know beavers better and to see the desirability for our coexistence with them. Highly Recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

“An engaging book that will leave readers spouting facts about beavers. Students will have a new appreciation for these innovative builders and their significant impact on the landscape and ecosystems of North America.”

School Library Journal