Got to Get to Bear's!

by Brian Lies

Overview

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.

Bear never asks for anything. So when she sends a note to Izzy urgently requesting her presence, Izzy can’t refuse! But a blizzard begins and slows Izzy's progress.  As the snow accumulates, so do her friends, helping her on her way to Bear’s place.  
     This heartwarming tale from best-selling author and illustrator Brian Lies shows readers the rewards of counting on friends to get you through, snowstorm or not.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780544948822
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	10/30/2018
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Brian Lies is the Caldecott honor-winning author-illustrator of New York Times bestsellers Bats at the Beach, Bats at the Library, Bats at the Ballgame, and Bats in the Band. He has written and illustrated more than twenty books for children. Born in Princeton, New Jersey, Brian lives on the South Shore of Massachusetts with his family.
www.BrianLies.com 

Editorial Reviews

08/06/2018
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.)

Publishers Weekly

"The surprise resolution...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."—Booklist, STARRED review "Lies creates a charming, heartwarming story of friendship, goodwill, and perseverance...A beautifully illustrated and gratifying story of woodland-creature comradeship and determination."—Kirkus "A humorous, heartwarming work."—School Library Journal —

From the Publisher

10/01/2018
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

School Library Journal

2018-06-25
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)

Kirkus Reviews