Lulu the Beaver

Learning that people are different is an important intangible that young children will learn, and this book approaches the subject up front and in an uneven way overall. Lulu is a young beaver in a family full of busy beavers doing what busy beavers do — building dams and lodges and cutting down trees. Lulu, though does not want to be a traditional beaver and follow the paths of her family she wants to be something different. She feels conflicted because she wants to be a good child for her parents but is not satisfied with her life. When she meets up with other creatures, Lulu learns that there are a number of ways to be still liked by a family but hold true to her beliefs. With that knowledge, Lulu sets out to do what makes her feel happy and fulfilled, and that is to be an artist.

The language in the book is on the border of young children being able to read it themselves versus parents having to read it to them, though the artwork is not at its top-notch, and that distracts at times from the story.