This is the Boat That Ben Built

Hooks for: ecology and ecosystems; food webs; species diversity; the needs of living things; scientific curiosity
Compelling for kids who dream of independent exploration, but includes safe supervision
Its setting in a northern river ecosystem will make it useful for collections about the importance of water
A fun fictional story paired with nine pages of rich back matter
The back matter includes definitions for ecosystem, keystone species, ecologist, predator, opportunistic feeder, omnivore, herbivore, and carnivore. It also spotlights facts about each creature encountered by Ben: fish, beaver, loon, goose, black bear, moose, heron, owl.
The classic “This is the house that Jack built” formula has rarely been adapted in such a fresh, funny way. Jen Lynn Bailey’s poetry feels effortless even as it builds to a comic peak where eight creatures collide in a startled chain reaction.
The author is a science and education professional
Debut Chinese-Canadian illustrator Maggie Zeng is a master of movement and flow. Her cheerful, friendly art tells its own story of Ben’s scientific expedition and his many attempts to net the fish that ultimately lands itself in his bucket.
Includes enriched printed endpapers
Classroom teaching guide forthcoming
World rights available