In this third seasonal tale about Fletcher the little fox, he and his menagerie of forest pals worry that Santa will have trouble finding the rabbits' new burrow. They painstakingly create a path of sticks to point the way, but it's covered by an evening snowfall. Even so, Santa comes through, and the friends share a warm celebration. Once again, Rawlinson's atmospheric, creative language and Beeke's textured, childlike artwork are richly satisfying, and they evoke the sensory pleasures of the winter woods as well as the comforts of friendship and a close community. A good choice for those seeking Christmas titles without biblical references.--Engberg, Gillian Copyright 2010 Booklist

Fletcher the fox, worried that Santa won't be able to find the rabbits in their new burrow, begins to build a trail of stick arrows to point Santa in the right direction. As he passes by his friend Squirrel, a flock of birds, and three mice, they all pitch in, arriving at the rabbits' new home, where they enjoy pie and Christmas songs. Rawlinson's descriptions (Every tree in the forest was frost-sprinkled and sparkling, and frozen puddles creaked and crackled under Fletcher's paws) are transporting. Beeke's painterly illustrations mirror the text -- shivery darkness is matched by a purple night sky and bare trees dusted with white, while light and whisper quiet snowflakes are as gossamer as spider webs. chelsey g. h. philpot (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

PreS-Gr 2-The charm of Fletcher and the Falling Leaves (2006) and Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms (2009, both Greenwillow) is again captured in this holiday tale. On Christmas Eve, Fletcher the fox and his animal friends want to make sure that Santa Claus finds the rabbit family's new home. They lay sticks on the ground, making a path to the burrow, but when a snowfall covers everything, Fletcher switches to plan B. The animals decide to stay up all night to tell Santa where the rabbits have moved. Naturally, they all fall asleep; but, no worries, Santa finds his way and the rabbits invite them all inside for a Merry Christmas. Colorful warm pastel illustrations fill each page and evoke the spirit of the season.-Diane Olivo-Posner, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Fletcher the fretful fox returns for the third entry in this seasonally themed series with beautifully distinctive illustrations skillfully integrated with the text. This time Fletcher worries that Santa won't find his rabbit neighbors, who have recently moved to a new, larger burrow in a nearby hillside. Despite a snowstorm, Santa finds the new home, and the friends celebrate together in the rabbits' cozy burrow. The gentle, simple story is deftly told with just the right amount of suspense and a nice balance of dialogue and exposition. Beeke's glowing pastel illustrations in her irresistible style captivate readers with their unusual hues and textures. She uses deep, saturated colors and swirling effects to create expressive illustrations that seem lit from within, creating a fantasy forest for Fletcher and his friends. (Picture book. 4-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.