Beaver Doesn't Open the Door

by Pang Shuo, Jiang Ziying (Illustrator)

Overview

An informative story about being sick and staying home. For children ages 5 years and up.

Beaver sneezes and snorts all the time. His nose is red and he has a fever. Beaver knows that something is wrong. He’s worried he may have a contagious disease. When his friends come to help him, he doesn’t open the door. He doesn’t want to accidentally get anyone sick.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781605376486
Publisher:	Clavis
Publication date:	08/03/2021
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.27(w) x 11.42(h) x (d)
Age Range:	5 - 11 Years

About the Author

Shuo Pang is a Chinese language teacher, a mother of two, and an over-age child who likes to read and write picture books. She dreams that the words under her pen will grow wings and fly into the hearts of millions of children, bringing them warmth, joy, wisdom, and strength.

Ziying Jiang is a freelance children's book illustrator based in Xinxiang City, China.

Editorial Reviews

(…)The message of this charmingly illustrated book may be that no precaution is too great, but a melancholy feeling lingers. The writing is nicely repetitive, as have been the warnings of the pandemic, and that may help make an impact on young readers.” - School Library Journal

"This is a beautifully illustrated story about Beaver. He isn't feeling well and many of his neighbors bring him things to make him feel more comfortable but he won't open the door. Beaver isn't being rude he is trying to keep everyone safe. He is afraid he has the new virus and he doesn't want it to spread. He goes to the Doctor and finds out he has a common cold. But he still uses safety precautions to keep all his neighbors safe. This is a good story for young children to help them understand how to keep from spreading germs and illnesses." - Educator Beth Grobmyer

"This is a very timely story and it will help parents, caregivers, educators open the conversation with children on why it is important to protect yourself when there is a contagious disease in the community." - Educator Anna Maria Tothivan

"This is more of a didactic story than a fun or literary story, but I think it could be useful in the right context. Beaver is sick and is worried that he might have the, erm, "latest virus" so he stays home and refuses all visitors except for medical professionals. The members of the community are concerned about him and come to check in and offer assistance, as well as learn about masking, social distancing, hand hygiene, and quarantine. This would probably be a helpful story for a young (ages 3-6) child trying to make sense of everything they've seen around them. The book tackles the subject in a matter-of-fact way and takes the threat of contagion seriously, but not in an overly scary way." - BookWorks

From the Publisher

10/02/2021

PreS-Gr 2—Beaver has a headache and a cough. And he's been hearing about a fearsome virus. So he stops answering to any knock on the door, explaining every time why. Mrs. Swan is turned away, and "Another neighbor knocks on the door. 'Are you all right, Beaver?' asks Aunt Mole. She heard Beaver cough and brought a bowl of soup. 'Thank you for your kindness, Aunt Mole, but I may have an infection, and for your safety, I can't open the door,' says Beaver shyly." All the woodland animals, outfitted in retro-style dresses and aprons, approach and all are turned away. When medical attention arrives, the team wears masks. And even though Beaver does not have the virus, by the end of the book, Beaver still won't answer the door. The message of this charmingly illustrated book may be that no precaution is too great, but a melancholy feeling lingers. The writing is nicely repetitive, as have been the warnings of the pandemic, and that may help make an impact on young readers. VERDICT This additional purchase attempts a hopeful ending, but children may feel unsatisfied, and wish, in fiction at least, for a happier or more definite outcome.—Kimberly Olson Fakih, School Library Journal

School Library Journal