17 Beaver's Tail

Beaver's Tail written by Pam Holden illustrated by Lamia Aziz

A long time ago, Beaver had a long soft tail. He thought it was the best tail of all the animals. He asked his friend Eagle, "Don't you wish your tail was just like mine?" "No," answered Eagle. "Then I wouldn't be able to fly up high into the sky. I like my own tail best."

Next, Beaver turned to Turtle and Rabbit, and asked the same thing. Turtle answered, "No, I would look so silly with that tail coming out of my shell. I am round and your tail is long. It would drag across the ground. I like my own tail best." Rabbit answered, "No, I would not be able to hop very fast at all with that tail. My tail is little and your tail is long. I like my own tail best."

Beaver went back to work, cutting down trees. While he was working, he was thinking about what Eagle, Turtle, and Rabbit had said. Beaver was deep in thought. While he thought about them, he didn't watch the tree he was working on.

Beaver cut too far into the tree. Beaver did not notice the tree begin to move. Beaver didn't notice the tree begin to sway. Beaver did not hear the tree CRACK! Suddenly, the tree fell down onto him. Beaver's long soft tail was stuck under the tree! Beaver wasn't able to get it out.

Beaver began to pull as hard as he could to move his stuck tail out from under the tree. He took hold of his long soft tail, and he pulled and pulled. Beaver tried and tried. It took a very long time but at last, his tail was out. When Beaver looked at his tail, he saw that it was flat and hard now. His long soft tail was gone!