I was born in 1943 and remember a children’s book about a pond. The pond was home to many animals – rabbits, frogs, fish, badgers, etc. But it also was one to a wicked beaver who wanted to destroy the pond. All the animals had to get together to defeat the beaver and save their pond. Of course they were successful. I remember something about the bees swarming and biting the beaver mercilessly as part of their battle plan. And it worked.
I thought more about the book and I think it was focused on a large oak tree, where all the different animals lived. The name of the book might have been something like ‘the mighty oak’. Would appreciate more specific information if anyone has it.