ALA Booklist (Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Hedgehog is feeling pricklier than usual when he finds a letter on the ground. "Friend, you are a joy," it begins, ending with "I love you." Suddenly, he feels unusually cheerful and agreeable to everything his friends Bunny and Squirrel suggest. In a series of accidents, the letter is lost and picked up by each of the three critters, who are made to feel wonderful after reading it. When they come together again, though, they fight over the letter until a small mouse appears, looking for the note she wrote for her good friend, the moon. The mouse helps everyone see that the warmth they felt after reading the letter is still present in their friendship. Pastel images with a sweet, old-fashioned quality are composed with gouache, brush marker, colored pencil, and ink wash. The letter was created with an actual typewriter, adding to the nostalgic atmosphere. An unconventional but effective look at how to recognize and express love.

Kirkus Reviews

A mysterious love letter brightens the lives of three forest animals.Appealing mixed-media illustrations made of ink, gouache, brush marker, and colored pencil combine with a timely message that one kind act can start a chain reaction of kindness. When Hedgehog, Bunny, and Squirrel stumble in turn upon a formally composed love letter, each finds their life improved: Squirrel is less anxious, Bunny spreads goodwill through helpfulness, and Hedgehog is unusually cheerful. As the friends converge to try to discover who sent the letter, the real author appears in a (rather) convenient turn: a mouse who wrote an ode to the moon. Though disappointed that the letter was never meant for them, the friends reflect that the letter still made the world a happier place, making it a "wonderful mix-up." Since there's a lot of plot to follow, the book will best serve more-observant readers who are able to piece the narrative cleanly, but those older readers may also better appreciate the special little touches, such as the letter's enticing, old-fashioned typewriter-style look, vignettes that capture small moments, or the subdued color palette that lends an elegant air. Drawn with minimalist, scribbly lines, the creatures achieve an invigorating balance between charming and spontaneous, with smudged lines that hint at layers of fur and simple, dotted facial expressions.A sweet and far-from-cloying ode to love. (Picture book. 4-8)

School Library Journal (Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

PreS-Gr 1 When Hedgehog accidentally stumbles upon a love letter in the woods, he assumes it was written to him. The warm feeling it creates changes his normally prickly manner and he is suddenly a delight to be with. His friend Bunny is so charmed by this metamorphosis that she hugs him, causing the letter to fall out of his pocket. When Bunny finds the letter, she naturally assumes that Hedgehog is in love with her and now her lazy nature is transformed into helpfulness. Predictably, when their mutual friend Squirrel discovers the same letter, his anxiety is supplanted by a feeling of tranquility. However, when the three friends realize that somebody entirely unknown to them wrote the poem, they begin to bicker. Fortunately, in the end, they realize the importance of their friendship and all is right with the world. VERDICT Denise's sweet text pairs with Cummins's dreamy and cozy illustrations about the transformative power of love and feelings of affirmation. A tender addition for most collections. Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, MI