47 Beavers on the Big, Blue Sea

by Phil Vischer, Jared Chapman (Illustrator), Dana Thompson (Illustrator)

In 1842, forty-seven beavers escape from the man who trapped them and row out into the Pacific Ocean, where they encounter terrible dangers and begin to despair until they realize that by using their God-given strengths and working together, they can reach safety.In 1842, forty-seven beavers escape from the man who trapped them and row out into the Pacific Ocean, where they encounter terrible dangers and begin to despair until they realize that by using their God-given strengths and working together, they can reach safety.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Poetry, Animals, Humor, Music

42 pages, Hardcover

First published March 6, 2007

About the author

Phillip Robert Vischer is an American voice actor, puppeteer, writer, animator and songwriter known for creating the animated video series "VeggieTales" with partner and friend Mike Nawrocki.

From 1993 to 2002, Vischer led the company as lead director and writer. In 2003 (after the release of "Jonah") Big Idea went bankrupt, and Vischer sold the company to Classic Media and left the company.

In 2005 he started Jellyfish Labs a new creative workshop where he produces faith-based projects. Starting in 2010, Vischer produced "What's In The Bible," a direct-to-DVD video series using puppetry and animation to present biblical material.

A weekly podcast discussing life in a post-Christian America co-hosted by Phil Vischer, Skye Jethani and actress Christian Taylor, ranks in the top 100 podcasts regularly.

Reviews

[Tamra]

Aw, adorable.

This is one of those rare book + CDs where the book is great on its own and you don't need the CD to sell it. Additionally delightful: the song is AWESOME! I listened to it once with my son, bouncing along to it the whole time, and then immediately said, "Let's listen to it again!" If you don't love the song, then something's wrong with you.

However, I would have liked if there was a version of the song that tells the listener when to turn the page on the book. There's no way my non-reading 5-year-old could do the book and CD by himself, and my slow-reading 7-year-old would have trouble, too. The song goes pretty fast.

[Sarah Ashburn]

First of all I really enjoyed the great illustrations in this book. They were so bright and great for kids. The language play in this book was also great. This book had a lot of rhyme and has a great repetition that kids could easily get into. I think that this would be a great book to create activities to go along with.

[Michele]

Tale of 47 beavers who use their God given gifts to overcome challenge and adversity. Rhyming seems a bit forced, rhythm is clunky. Includes cd: Vischer reads the story and breaks into song. (Issues with rhyme and rhythm are nonexistent with his reading.) Illustratrations are bright and cheerful.

[Rebecca]

By the same silly guy who brought us Veggietales, this is about a group of crafty beavers and their grand adventure. So funny, so cute, and the CD will have even the grumpiest adult smiling brightly. If you have kids, or are a kid at heart, you MUST own this book.

[Nadine]

Hilarious!

[Megan]

Well done, beavers. You know what they say, "It's no fun bitin' dinner if your dinner's bitin' you."

[Jyoti]

i think this is a very good book. and i also think its funny!

[Christine]

Sing-song style. Rhyming.

[Mary]

Researching the structure of children's books for an upcoming project. This story is rhyme-based, and I love its absurdity. The author has done voice work for 'Veggie Tales.'

[Jessica (JT)]

A cute, fun kid's book with a good moral. A fun kids book.

[Lynn]

Ran across this book at a Library Book Sale - Really an adorable book – cute illustrations, good way to teach kids to work together as a team! Great to read for preschoolers!

[Becky B]

47 beavers have been trapped! But when they put their heads and their tails and their teeth together, they find they may have a way out of this predicament and just about anything else that comes their way.

A silly and memorable story about the power of teamwork. The beavers are quite cute. The rhyming was fine but the rhythm wasn't always even from one page to the next and that threw me a little. Kids probably won't even notice and will just be delighted with the adventures of these beavers. There are some Bible verses mentioned that relate to teamwork, but the book is not really religious in the content of the story. Recommended to animal lovers, kids who are learning about working cooperatively or as a team, and silly story fans.

[Heather]

I love the author and the message of the book is a good one, but I found the rhyming awkward and nonsensical in a way that didn’t work for me.

[Sarah]

The story of 47 beavers facing all the odds together when they set sail on the ocean.

[D Nine]

Fun to read aloud!