The Lumberjack’s Beard

Big Jim Hickory is a lumberjack with a very impressive beard. He spends his days cutting down trees and his spare time limbering up for lumbering and eating piles of pancakes with maple syrup.

One evening Jim is disturbed by a knock on the door; it is a very irate bird complaining that the lumberjack has destroyed her home. Jim comes up with an unusual solution, the homeless bird can move into his beard! The bird is soon followed by a porcupine and a beaver both also made homeless because of Jim’s labours. With all of these residents in his bushy beard life quickly becomes complicated for Jim. He can no longer sleep at night, do his limbering up or even eat his breakfast in peace. He decides enough is enough and takes drastic action. Jim shaves off his beard to create a cosy den for the refugee animals and plants more trees to replace the ones he had cut down.

This is a very enjoyable story with a pleasingly patterned structure and rhythmic language making it a great book to read aloud to young children. It is full of warmth and humour in the appealing illustrations. Animal habitats, the effects of de forestation and the importance of sustainability are touched on providing lots for young readers to think about.  Another great picturebook from the creator of The Bear Who Stared.