Barry the beaver, who works constantly, discovers from his animal friends that his life is more balanced if he sets time aside for such things as prayer, leisure, and love.

This gentle story about a workaholic beaver will charm kids while capturing adults with its humorous but wise lesson for all ages. Barry Beaver has almost literally one word in his vocabulary: work., He works seven days a week, straight through the Sabbath. He's convinced that he is doing his best to provide the good life for his wife, Beulah Beaver, and their eight handsome beaver children. As he toils, he mutters a string of work-related aphorisms like "When a job is once begun, never leave until it's done". Work is the only thing he understands. Nudged by the other animals, Barry at last comes to see all that he's been missing. He's resistant at first ("Too many words in a beaver's head: a dangerous thing, a thing to dread"). His wife, Beulah Beaver, nudges as well, telling him that though he may work hard out of love, having no time to show that love is not good. Finally Barry learns a new word; enough -- as in Enough is enough!