The Bear and the Beaver

In a green woodland filled with whispering trees and curling ferns, Bruno the big brown bear, wearing his red neckerchief, is known as both the strongest and one of the kindest animals around. Each morning he greets the shallow stream where fish flash silver in the sun. Nearby lives Benny, a small chestnut-brown beaver with a cream belly and a little blue tool belt holding a wooden measuring stick. Though Benny is only knee-high to Bruno, the two are the best of friends and often remind each other that strength and cleverness make a very good team.

One morning the woodland fills with worried chatter: the old crossing of two fallen logs has broken and slid sideways into the water. Hedgehog cannot cross with her little ones, the rabbits hop about sadly, and the squirrels look nervous about the slippery stones. Benny studies the broken crossing with his measuring stick, working out where new logs should go, while Bruno offers to push and pull the heavy trees into place. This gentle tale by Jane MEADOW follows their building project step by step, and can be read on Kids Tale Book.