Starred Review ALA Booklist (Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Starred Review Lies, creator of the best-selling Bat Book series, brings his whimsical storytelling and strong ability to portray natural settings to this tale of friendship. The backdrop throughout is an intensifying blizzard, depicted so well that readers can see the strength of the wind on the blown-back fur of the animal characters' faces. The action kicks off with Izzy, a chipmunk, getting a letter from her friend Bear, urging her to "Please come at once!" Outfitted with a striped scarf and tiny lantern, petite Izzy sets out, trudging through the deepening snow. Just as Izzy can walk no farther, she encounters a friend, a sweatshirt-wearing squirrel, who carries Izzy on his back through the treetops until the branches become too slippery to grasp. Next, a duck in a Peruvian hat appears, taking the squirrel and chipmunk on a hazardous flight, which brings them to a sweater-clad raccoon, who gives all three a ride to Bear's door. Lies' arresting illustrations of the animals' journey through the wintry woods include dramatic double-page spreads and paneled scenes that convey the storm's mounting ferocity. The surprise resolution upon reaching Bear's cozy den is highly satisfying, as is the book's depiction of a blizzard that is no match for resourcefulness and camaraderie. This bracing story weaves warmth and excitement into a memorable celebration of friendship.

Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

When chipmunk Izzy receives Bear's note ("Please come at once!"), she braves heavy snowfall until squirrel Scritch relieves her with a piggyback ride; when Scritch tires, duck Bingle lends a wing, etc. Readers who don't question the advisability of characters risking Izzy's safety to pull off her surprise birthday party will enjoy the friends' mutual devotion and Lies's charmingly old-fashioned acrylic paintings.

Kirkus Reviews

Izzy, a chipmunk, braves a storm, relying on her friends' resourcefulness to get to Bear's house.When Izzy receives a note from Bear asking her to come over right away, she can't refuse. As she steps out the door, it begins to snow. As the snow gets thicker, she finds it more and more difficult to find her way. Soon, a squirrel in a sweater comes to her rescue and takes her across the treetops to get to Bear's. When it gets too slippery, a duck in a Peruvian hat starts to fly them all there. When it gets too difficult to see, a sweater-wearing raccoon carries them all (one perched atop the other, "Musicians of Bremen" style) by leaping across the snow. After a long journey in the blizzard and assistance from this accumulation of friends, Izzy finally makes it to Bear's house for a delightful surprise. Lies creates a charming, heartwarming story of friendship, goodwill, and perseverance. His attention to the tiniest details—seemingly each hair on the raccoon's tail can be descried, not to mention the profusion and variety of knitwear—elevates the book above the ordinary. The landscape illustrations are exquisite. Often illustrating the intensifying blizzard on double-page spreads, he draws readers in and puts them in the middle of the storm.A beautifully illustrated and gratifying story of woodland-creature comradeship and determination. (Picture book. 4-7)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Expressive artwork distinguishes this celebration of working together by Lies (The Rough Patch). -Dear Izzy,- a note from Bear reads. -Please come at once!- It-s starting to snow, but Izzy the chipmunk starts out gamely, swinging lantern in tow. Soon, she-s up to her snout in drifts, and Scritch the squirrel offers her a lift: -The treetop road is the way.- As she clings to his green jacket, he swings from branch to branch until it gets too slippery. Then Bingle the duck takes to the air with the pair (-Skyway is better than battling branches!-), and Snaffle the raccoon steps in to get the group to Bear-s door just before the snow covers them all. In the end, an unexpected surprise awaits Izzy, and the friends convene in front of a warm fire, safe and jovial. The spreads show detail in high definition: every stitch on Bear-s cabled sweater can be counted, and snow particles fly with startling realism as Bingle flaps through the storm. This warmhearted friendship adventure is a good choice for sharing at bedtime, or during a classroom break, in any weather. Ages 4-7. Agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary. (Oct.)

School Library Journal (Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

PreS-Gr 2 When Izzy, a chipmunk, receives a letter from Bear asking her to come quickly, she knows it must be serious because "Bear never asked for anything." The tiny critter sets out to help her friend, even though snowflakes are beginning to fall. When the snow becomes too deep for Izzy to walk through, a squirrel comes along to help, and carries the smaller animal through the treetops. As the sky darkens and the snow deepens, a duck, and then a raccoon soon show up to help their friends find the way to Bear's house. After the foursome finally arrives at the cozy den, Izzy is in for a big surprise. Bold acrylic illustrations in deep red, blue, green, and brown are rich with details: the expressions on the animals' faces, the crash into a cupola, the texture of Bear's Irish knit sweater, the duck's ear-flap hat, and the glow from Izzy's lantern and Bear's fireplace. The cover art of the four animals is reminiscent of the classic tale of "The Bremen Town Musicians" and is only the beginning of a humorous, heartwarming work. VERDICT An appealing seasonal read-aloud or one-on-one choice. Maryann H. Owen, Oak Creek Public Library WI