The Beavers’ Workshop Problem

In Numberwood, the beavers had a big log shed where they worked every day.

They made chairs, tables, lamps, shelves, beds — even spoons for soup.

But whenever they finished something, they just put it in one big pile in the corner.

The pile grew taller and taller until it nearly touched the roof.

Tiny chairs for mice sat beside tall cupboards for bears. Lamps leaned on tables. Tables balanced on beds. Everything was mixed together!

One morning, a little mouse came for a chair.

The mouse looked right — “Oh! That looks like a table leg!”

She looked left — “Hmm… maybe that’s a lamp cord?”

She looked up and up and up. High above, something looked just like a chair!

The mouse tugged and pulled until it came loose. Then she climbed on.

Wobble, wobble, flip!

It wasn’t a chair at all. It was a giant spoon that a bear could use for porridge!

The beavers rushed to help and lifted the spoon.

“Oh dear,” one said. “How will this little mouse ever find what she’s looking for?”