Up the Creek

July 15, 2013
The bear, the moose and the beaver might be friends, but they can't agree on anything! One nice, sunny day, the three friends decide to go for a canoe trip down the river. All of them want to steer--and that tips the canoe, and they all end up in the water. A game of "Eenie-Meenie-Minie-Moe" puts the moose in the stern, but they all insist on paddling on the same side of the canoe. They're so stubborn that they just circle for a long time. It's only when they get tired that they start switching sides and move forward. When they come to a beaver dam, no one can agree on how to get over the blockage. Once over the dam (the bear's idea to portage wins out), the trip goes smoothly...until the bickering starts. They're yelling so loudly that they don't hear the waterfall, and that strands them on a rock in the middle of the river. They argue well into the night. It's not until the next morning that it dawns on the friends that they'll never get to shore unless they work together. Canadian author/illustrator Oldland's fourth Life in the Wild picture book features all three of his blocky cartoon woodland characters in a fine tale of friendship and cooperation. Gentle humor, both visual and textual, make this an easy and not preachy lesson. Storytimers and newly independent readers alike will enjoy this trio's continuing adventures. (Picture book. 3-7)

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August 1, 2013

K-Gr 2-In this fourth title about a bear, moose, and beaver, the three critters decide to take a canoe trip. It seems like a good idea, but the friends quickly learn that failing to work together causes many problems; they disagree on small issues, such as who will steer the boat and how to do it correctly. Readers are introduced to nautical and canoeing terms such as "stern," "portside," "portage," "current," etc. Oldland's simple text and spare illustrations keep the story moving at a good pace. Throughout the tale, a charming red bird mimics the friends' actions. The story addresses friendship, animals, humor, the outdoors, and cooperation.-Janene Corbin, Rosebank Elementary School, Nashville, TN

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2014
Friends Moose, Bear, and Beaver bicker constantly on their canoeing trip. However, when they suddenly find themselves shooting white-water rapids, they must cooperate in order to make it through. The comical narrative's deadpan delivery is cleverly mirrored in the Photoshop illustrations, in which the animals retain their poker-faced expressions even as they're being tossed around in the water.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)