Badir, a newly arrived Tunisian immigrant to Canada, rallies along with his classmates to save a beaver's natural habitat from destruction by local residents annoyed by the animal's constant damage to surrounding trees.Badir is captivated by what he initially thinks is a huge, swimming rat, an animal he briefly spotted in a pond on his way back from school. With the help of the internet, his teacher, classmates, and also forthcoming strangers eager to share what they know, Badir soon learns that the little creature he spied in darkness is in fact a beaver, Canada's national symbol. He also finds out that local residents, worried by how the beaver might harm the trees around its habitat, are starting a petition to have what they regard as a pest removed from the park. Unfazed by the task ahead, Badir, along with his classmates, organizes a countercampaign—brainstorming sessions, banners, and all. Who will ultimately get the upper hand? Will the beaver saga have a happy ending? With her gentle tale, Stewart does an excellent job at promoting cultural understanding, not only by foregrounding a young Muslim character and his family, but also by setting the story during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, introducing the reader to many of its facets and doing so with effortless grace. Gendron's black-and-white illustrations depict a multiracial urban setting.A beautifully written page-turner about belonging. (Fiction. 6-8)

When Badir announces in class that he saw a giant rat swimming in the lake near his home, he's met with skepticism and derision from some of his classmates. Not even his older brother, Anis, believes him! But Badir remains adamant and eventually learns that what he really saw was a beaver in the park pond. Originally from Tunisia, Badir is still learning a lot about his home in Canada, and he becomes even more enamored of beavers after discovering they're a national animal of Canada. His fascination turns into a cause when a man begins petitioning to have Badir's beaver removed from the park. With the help of his classmates, brother, and neighbor, Badir leads the campaign to protect the beaver. Badir's boisterous personality and good nature make him a fun character to follow, and his family's observance of Ramadan adds an extra layer of interest to the story. This upbeat early chapter book is engagingly illustrated, filled with beaver facts, and delivers a positive message about protecting the environment.

Badir, a newly arrived Tunisian immigrant to Canada, rallies along with his classmates to save a beaver's natural habitat from destruction by local residents annoyed by the animal's constant damage to surrounding trees.Badir is captivated by what he initially thinks is a huge, swimming rat, an animal he briefly spotted in a pond on his way back from school. With the help of the internet, his teacher, classmates, and also forthcoming strangers eager to share what they know, Badir soon learns that the little creature he spied in darkness is in fact a beaver, Canada's national symbol. He also finds out that local residents, worried by how the beaver might harm the trees around its habitat, are starting a petition to have what they regard as a pest removed from the park. Unfazed by the task ahead, Badir, along with his classmates, organizes a countercampaign—brainstorming sessions, banners, and all. Who will ultimately get the upper hand? Will the beaver saga have a happy ending? With her gentle tale, Stewart does an excellent job at promoting cultural understanding, not only by foregrounding a young Muslim character and his family, but also by setting the story during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, introducing the reader to many of its facets and doing so with effortless grace. Gendron's black-and-white illustrations depict a multiracial urban setting.A beautifully written page-turner about belonging. (Fiction. 6-8)