ALA Booklist (Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

On the night before Christmas, Squirrel is baking cookies, Hare is decorating the tree, and Mouse is going out to find a present for Hare. But it still doesn't feel like Christmas in their cozy house. Suddenly, Mouse returns and calls for help. She has found a swallow lying in the snow, alive but ill. They take the bird home and try to warm her with coneflower tea (Hare's gift to Squirrel) and a knitted cap (Squirrel's gift to Mouse). Nursed through the night, the swallow wakes at dawn and begins to sing, bringing joy to the kindly animals. The story has a sturdy structure as well as a central dilemma that will engage children. A Malaysian artist evidently making her picture-book debut, Chan offers illustrations featuring fine black lines that define the settings, while shorter lines shape the characters' forms; it's a pleasantly dizzying effect. The color palette, meanwhile, is restrained and pleasing. A quiet picture book with a certain seasonal charm.

Horn Book (Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

Three animal friends, Squirrel, Mouse, and Hare, prepare the Little Burrow for Christmas. Mouse finds an ill swallow in the snowy forest, and the trio rescue and nurse the bird back to health. Delicate color illustrations picture the friends' altruistic efforts of offering their gifts (coneflowers, warm cap) to aid in Swallow's recovery; she rewards them with a sweet song.

Kirkus Reviews (Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

Three animal friends rescue a sick swallow and nurse her back to health in time to celebrate Christmas together. Squirrel, Mouse, and Hare are busy decorating and baking for Christmas in their cozy burrow in a snowy hillside. When Mouse heads out to find a present for Hare, she stumbles across a swallow lying nearly dead in the snow. The three friends work together to get Swallow back to their burrow, where they tenderly care for her. The animals use two presents they have prepared for one another to help Swallow: brewing medicinal tea from coneflower blossoms and stretching out a warm, knitted hat to fit the sick bird's head. As Swallow recovers, she sings beautiful music for them, providing a gift for Hare, who loves music. The simple story is gracefully told, with understated prose that complements the minimalist watercolor-and-ink illustrations in a muted palette. The stylized animals are drawn with tiny repeating dashes of ink in patterned lines to indicate fur in an intriguing way. The mammals' eyes are depicted as curved lines, as are the swallow's in most illustrations. The gentle tone of both the story and the illustrations is a refreshing, pleasant take on the theme of helping someone in need and enjoying the bonds of friendship. (Picture book. 3-7)

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

Hare, Squirrel, and Mouse are busy making Christmas preparations in the Little Burrow where they live together: -Hare sang as he decorated the tree, Squirrel sprinkled sugar on the hazelnut cookies.- When Mouse sneaks out to get a last-minute present for Hare, she finds sickly Swallow alone in the cold. Mouse and her friends bring Swallow home and work to revive her. One by one, the animals encourage each other to open their gifts (coneflowers for tea, a warm hat), realizing that -Swallow needs them more.- Evans narrates economically, and Chan-s muted palette suits the quiet atmosphere of the Little Burrow; with thin dashes for fur, her animals resemble hand-stitched dolls. It-s a tender holiday reminder that generosity means the most when it-s directed at those who are truly in need. Up to age 3. Author-s agent: Christa Heschke, McIntosh & Otis. Illustrator-s agent: Nicole Mendelsohn, Astound Agency. (Oct.)

School Library Journal (Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

PreS-Gr 1In a little burrow in the woods, three animal friends are preparing for Christmas. Mouse still needs to find a Christmas present for Hare, so she ventures outside and comes upon a sick swallow lying in the snow. Together the friends carry the bird back to their burrow and take care of her using the Christmas gifts they had intended for each other. Watercolor-and-ink illustrations in a pleasant wintry palette exude coziness; while the scale of the animals is somewhat puzzling (Swallow is far bigger than even Squirrel and Hare), this does not detract from the overall appeal. VERDICT A sweet holiday tale about caring and sharing.Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library