  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 10/01/2017 *Starred Review* Living alone in a little house, a boy named William prepares to sleep. It’s snowing outside, so he burrows under his cozy bedcovers until he hears tapping at the window. When a chipmunk asks for shelter, William scooches over to make room in his bed. A knock at the door signals the arrival of a porcupine, who fits in, too. Next, they make room for a groundhog banging on the door, followed by a raccoon at the window. Finally, a polite note slipped under the door asks for company. Though reluctant to add one more, the animals relent when they meet the enormous, lonely bear. In the final picture, the animals share William’s bed, while he snuggles down in a nearby chair. Beautifully paced, rhymed, and cadenced, the rhythmic verses pause only for the tapping, rapping, knocking, booming, and crunching of the arriving animals. The text reads aloud well, with natural places for kids to join in. The illustrator of Hank’s Big Day (2016), Groenink uses light, shading, and textures effectively. With a subdued palate of deep blues, grays, and tawny browns, his mixed-media artwork creates a strong sense of the setting and the appealing characters. Just right for reading aloud on cold, wintry nights. - Copyright 2017 Booklist. School Library Journal - 11/01/2017 PreS-Gr 1—One cold winter night, a boy named William is about to fall asleep, then hears the sound of a "tap, tap, tap" outside. He scooches over to make room for a cold and tired chipmunk until a series of other abrupt noises…"knocking…booming…pinging… and crunching" are followed by a troupe of other unexpected house guests. These sleepy evening visitors range in size from a porcupine, beaver, and raccoon to a towering bear. In each instance, there is always room for one more. Ashman's lilting rhymes are ideal as a soothing bedtime story, accompanied by bold illustrations of a dark, bluish purple night dotted by white swirly snowflakes. The entreating look on each animal's face peering in at the door is irresistibly sweet, though the bear's looming presence at story's end seems almost too dark to discern. Young children will simply enjoy this as an endearing, cuddle-up story at bedtime, especially on a stormy night. An added value to the tale is its emphasis on the benefits of bestowing hospitality to those in need and a generosity of spirit towards new friends. VERDICT A cozy winter story best saved for nighttime reading, and a good purchase for most collections.—Etta Anton, Yeshiva of Central Queens, NY - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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