Got to Get to Bear's!

• Publishing date:  Oct. 30, 2018

• Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

• ISBN-10: 0544948823

• ISBN-13: 978-0544948822

Bear never asks for anything. So when a letter arrives for the little chipmunk Izzy, urgently requesting her presence, she can’t refuse—even if there is a blizzard on the way!

This heartwarming tale of friendship from bestselling author Brian Lies will melt even the chilliest of hearts.

STARRED REVIEW, Booklist June 1, 2018

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, tiny 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 her 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’s 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.  —Connie Fletcher

Are you a knitter? Do you want to make Bingle’s hat (above)? Click here to find the pattern, graciously created by Lindsay