A Beaver Tale

When Detroit was settled over three hundred years ago, beavers (then known by the French name castors) were one of the most numerous and important animals in North America. Yet the aggressive beaver pelt trade in Detroit and elsewhere decimated the animals population, and the regions remaining beavers were unable to reestablish their homes in the citys industrial landscape once the trapping ended. In A Beaver Tale: The Castors of Conners Creek, author and illustrator Gerald Wykes tells the incredible story of one beaver familys return to the Detroit River in 2008, more than one hundred years after beavers were last seen in the area. Wykes shows readers how the beavers were discovered at the Conners Creek Power Plant on the citys east side, after people noticed trees were being mysteriously cut down. He combines real observations of this pioneering beaver colony with background about the important history of the beaver in Michigan, from its relationship to the Native occupants of the Great Lakes to its discovery by Europeans as a source of valuable furs. He explores some of the beavers unique physical features, including its impressively webbed hind feet, delicate fingered hands, waterproof fur, and famous flat tail, and also explains how todays strict pollution laws and shoreline improvements have turned the Detroit River into a hospitable place for beavers once again. Wykess full-color illustrations and kid-friendly text tell a serious tale ofenvironmental recovery in a fun and accessible way. Young readers aged 8 to 12 will enjoy the unique natural and cultural history in A Beaver Tale.