Naturalist Holland's latest is part nonfictional photo-essay and part endearing narrative about some of earth's most unusual mammals. The story follows a group of beavers over the course of a year as they break the last of winter's ice, eat spring shoots, birth and rear their young, improve their dams, and winter in sturdy lodges. Much focus is placed on their unmatched ability to engineer their own habitats, but other topics are also explored, such as their social behaviors, diet, and life cycle. The text is rich in facts and is perfectly complemented with full-page color photographs of beavers on the move. A reproducible creative minds section in the back matter poses higher-order critical inquiries based on extra factual text and photographic clues. As a learning resource, the book is standards-aligned and ready-made for cross-curricular studies. Proof positive that nonfiction for emergent readers can be equal parts attractive, informative, and entertaining.

Illustrated with full-double-spread color photographs (some unfortunately hampered by the gutter), this is a lively exploration of beaver life. Holland reveals a wealth of information about these animals and the ways in which they are well-adapted to their unusual lives: e.g., their "see-through eyelids that serve as goggles" and hind-foot toenails used to "remove splinters from between their teeth." Denser additional information is appended.