It looks as if a massive snowflake-filled snow storm is about to descend on the New York Metropolitan area, so I thought what a perfect moment for Fletcher the fox and friends to descend as well on the picture book scene at The Snuggery.

Christmas Eve is nine days away, and in this picture book by Julia Rawlinson, it IS Christmas Eve. It’s an” ice-bright” (love the description), Christmas Eve morning as Fletcher Fox is in a muddle.

His friends, the rabbits, have relocated to a new burrow pre-Christmas and Fletcher is anxious that Santa may have trouble finding his way there.

Fletcher is one empathetic fox as he imagines how HE might feel if HE had to move out of HIS cozy den.

So, he concocts a plan to show Santa the way to the rabbits abode …..with gathered sticks from the frozen ground, forming arrows that point the way.

Fletcher encounters other forest folk such as a squirrel birds, and mice who join in the endeavor. They finish just in time to smell the aroma of blackberry pie emanating from the cozy and warmly lit new rabbit burrow.

As the festive party ends, there appears to have been a swirl of snow descending so softly on the forest floor that no one is even aware until Fletcher opens the burrow door to leave.

What about the sticks pointing Santa to the rabbits new digs? Covered over!

Nothing for it but for Fletcher to STAY AWAKE to keep watch for Santa to give him directions. And Fletcher’s holly-wreathed bed, with his stocking hung at the foot board is warmth times ten!

Tiphanie Beeke has created a wistful and wonderful effect in the soft, almost gouache-like rendering of Fletcher and his forest and friends Christmas Eve dilemma. It makes Fletcher come alive for young readers and care about his compassionate nature. And that is what art should do – enhance the narrative – and it does.

But, will the squirrel, in a hollow of an oak tree, stay awake too?

Will birds, high in the branches of fir trees, fight off sleep?

Will mice, tucked in their nest, “dreaming of berries,” keep vigil?

Christmas morning arrives and, well, everyone did take a snooze.

BUT, skiing over to the rabbit burrow will tell the tale of whether Santa  is more than capable of finding his own way there.

Have a little faith, Fletcher!

Let your young reader find out for themselves in the Merry Christmas morning revelations from “Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas.”

Julia Rawlinson has provided a “berry-bright warmth” of a Christmas picture book with a fox named Fletcher who, I think, has found picture book fame, along with his forest friends.

Merry Christmas, Fletcher!!