The Flying Beaver Brothers and the Mud-Slinging Moles

Gr 2–6—What could have been another inane slapstick-ridden set of animal adventures is saved in a big way by unusual characters and a wonderfully dry, deadpan sense of humor. Ace and Bub live on a forested island in a large body of water in an undetermined location. Various threats seem to constantly destroy the tranquillity of their preferred way of life, and the brothers are called upon to keep the peace using their wits, moxie, and more than a little bit of good luck. In book three, a boatload of moles with a population-control problem on their own island is trying to steal dirt from Beaver Island using a gargantuan vacuum cleaner. In book four, an enterprising fish attempts to clear one of the islands of its residents by pitting birds and bunnies against one another. As each group tries to drive the other away, Walter Mackerel the Fourth makes plans to open a resort for Squirrels. Each time, the brothers manage to restore order, but one always gets the impression that they'd much rather be taking it easy. This adds immeasurably to the charm of the series, fit to join the ranks of other popular kids' comics series like Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm's "Babymouse" (Random) and Michael Townsend's "Kit Feeny" (Knopf). Simple cartoon artwork keeps the focus on the action, using black, grays, and one additional color (different for each volume).—J. M. Poole, Webster Public Library, NY