I wanted to like this book so much. The premise is good and the illustrations sweep you along, but the story feels unfinished. It seems as though all the animals should have needed the help of the brothers.

A storm is coming; in the wood every animal is working to make their nest comfortable for winter.

During the storm two foreign bears come to the forest, and all the animals are quite worried: "who are they?" "what do they want?". The two strangers ask for help to every family, but nobody wants to have them in their own home.

While the snow begin to fall, the fox family is experiencing a problem, their house is almost crumbling, and they have to go out, who will help them?

A nice story, told in watercolours.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me the copy necessary to write this review.

Lovely illustrations, such soft touches. The story is one that should be shared with young children and talked about. The idea of generosity, sharing, kindness are important topics that every child can relate to.

I picked this book from Netgalley because of the illustrator, Qin Leng. Her soft ink and watercolour illustrations are the highlight of this book for me. Honestly, they are gorgeous, and impart a vintage feel reminiscent of the original Winnie the Pooh and The Wind in the Willows books. While I was in the middle of admiring Leng's images, I became enchanted with the story itself.

Families of animals in a forest are having an ordinary day, when word comes that a blizzard is on its way.

They get to work preparing for it and then settle snugly into their little homes.

When two bears, strangers to them, arrive in the forest, they wonder who they are are and why they are here.
When the strangers go from home to home searching for shelter, the animal families lie and send them on their way. Only a young fox offers them a lantern to guide them.

As the snow piles up, the strangers fashion their own shelter. When the heavy snow collapses the fox den, they end up searching for shelter themselves and find it with the strangers in their snow den.

This book will be an important contribution to collections about immigration and refugees, but is significant on its own for what it teaches readers about generosity and kindness.

Beautiful illustrations and heart warming tale. While there is no religious over tones, the story reminds you of the birth of Jesus.

In today's world, we are taught to fear the unknown. We are weary of strangers and stingy with our possessions. We distrust those who are different from us and let our ignorance keep us from seeing the similarities we share. In times like these, it's comforting to know there are books out there like Celine Claire's Shelter.

This beautifully illustrated picture book is reminiscent of "The Little Red Hen." It teaches readers that by helping others, we are also helping ourselves. Set in the forest, this story shows various animal families as they prepare for an incoming blizzard. Birds, foxes, hogs, and rabbits work together to gather food and firewood so they can outlast the storm. While the storm is raging, two mysterious strangers appear and ask each animal family for help. One by one, they are turned away. The only animal to show the strangers any kindness is a young fox. When disaster threatens the fox family, they are able to rely on the strangers to help them in return.

The illustrations in Shelter are done with pen, ink, and watercolor by Qin Leng. With soft colors and adorable anthropomorphic animals, children of all ages will enjoy the pictures that accompany the story. As an adult reader, I found the illustrations to be very whimsical. They left me with a strong feeling of nostalgia for certain books of my childhood, such as A.A. Milne's Winne the Pooh.

There is great value in the message of this book. As a teacher, I can see it being used to teach lessons about kindness, acceptance, and friendship. Shelter was a joy to read and would be a worthy addition to your home or classroom library.

My Rating:★★★★★/5

*Thank you to Kids Can Press and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!*

Shelter is a beautiful story wilt a heartwarming message about kindness and consideration for others. The illustrations are done in a soothing, soft style selecting various animals.

Shelter is a good suggestion for children who love animals. The kindness of some of the animals is rewarded with kindness when they are themselves in need. A beautifully illustrated example of the need for kindness and consideration for others.

The Shelter by Céline Claire is a beautiful and wonderful story that teaches about goodness. A big storm is brewing and all the animals are headed inside for safety. But two lone bears are out and about. They knock door to door looking for shelter from the storm. They offer their tea in exchange, but no one opens their doors. Once snow starts to fall the bears make their own shelter, and are able to be the help someone else needs when the time arrives.

The reader is introduced to a small group of animals who are preparing for a storm. Two polar bear brother are stuck in the storm. They try to find shelter from other animals but as they go door to door no one lets them in. While the fox den turns the bears away because of size, the foxes helped the bears with a small gift. Eventually the bears find their own shelter and when the fox family finds themselves in the cold when their den collapses the bears invite the foxes in to their shelter. 

The story has a great message of goodness and helping other when possible. The pictures are done by watercolor illustrations, which shows the mood and atmosphere of the story.  It brings the beauty of the forest, it's inhabitants, their hidden houses and families to the reader. A true story of friendship, caring, compassion, sharing and love.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Kids Can Press in exchange for an honest review.

I received this ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.
There's a storm coming and all the animals are preparing. They finish just as the wind begins to howl when suddenly a bear and his brother appear. One by one the two bears knock on the other animals doors hoping to exchange some tea for shelter. One by one the other animals turn them away. The bears leave and find a quiet den for themselves. When the snow becomes too heavy the fox family must escape but where will they go now. Will the bears help them even though they turned them away? A story about being good to one another.

Good read with kids. Opens an important discussion about helping others and generosity. Being able to forgive and help. Great illistrations. Would recommend this book.

ARC copy.....Simple but gentle message of being kind to others and the illustrations very much convey this. Gentle water colour style with ink illustrations still seem like the message cozy like an animal's nook in a storm.

When strangers need a little help it is a child who empathizes and shows compassion. A lovely lesson for young children about helping those less fortunate. Beautiful watercolors enable non-readers to tell the story by themselves.

Such a heartwarming little tale. Illustrations fit the text and is age appropriate.

The creatures of the forest know there is a big storm on its way so they gather wood for their fires, food for their larders, and they bundle up inside in the warmth and safety of their homes. When two strangers show up in the thick of the winter storm, none of the families are willing to share their homes and the bears end up stuck out in the snow. But then the roof of the fox den collapses from the heavy snow and they are all forced out into storm. Thankfully, the bears have created their own shelter and are willing to share.

This was such a heartwarming little story with a great lesson on sharing and being compassionate to others; especially in times of need. You never know when it will be you that is in trouble and needs a helping hand.

The watercolor illustrations are fantastic. The warm, muted colors really help build the scene of each comfy little den during a winter storm. I absolutely adore this illustrator's style.

Disappointed, as I couldn't download this file :-(

The first thing I noticed about this book was the cover, the color is very autumn and adorable.
The illustrations are also very beautiful in each page of this book. The story is heartwarming and inspiring with a beautiful message for kids. Both children and adults can learn something from this pretty book.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

The Shelter is a story that teaches the reader about goodness and what goes around comes around. Karma is a real thing. In the story we are introduced to a small group of animals preparing for a storm that is coming. Two polar bear brothers are stuck out in the storm and try to seek refuge from the animals. They go door to door, but no one lets them in. After being turned away from the fox den, the young fox decides to help the bears out with a tiny gift and he gives them a lantern. This good deed does not go unnoticed, and when the fox family finds themselves out in the cold when their den collapses, it is the bears that invite them in to their shelter. The message, it is nice not to turn your back to someone who is asking your help when you can give it, as well, if you are good to others, they will be good to you, a version of the Golden Rule. There are beautiful watercolor illustrations showing the mood and atmosphere of the story. It brings the beauty of the forest, it's inhabitants, their hidden houses and families to the reader. A true story of friendship, caring, compassion, sharing and love. A book for any and all family, public, school and classroom libraries.

This heartwarming book is the epitome of how those seeking solace from a huge storm should be treated. It highlights the vital importance of practising kindness, generosity and hospitality to those seeking a safe haven from peril.

A small community of animals are preparing for a huge winter storm that is blowing into their midst. They gather wood and store up food to ensure their families will be protected from the harsh tempest. They seal off their homes and hunker down safe and warm while the raging storm blows furiously outside.

Two bears that are strangers to the area residents are passing through and come knocking on doors seeking shelter and some comfort food until the storm passes. They come offering tea for their admittance in hope that some generous animal will open up their doors for them and let them come in and abide a while.

"The wind is cold. In exchange for some tea, could we warm ourselves by your fire?"

Alas, no one will allow them entry even though each family is snug and comfortable inside their hovels. The bears must move on and finally out of desperation they decide to create their own make-shift, temporary shelter to shield them from the raging elements swirling all around them.

The fox family experiences a disaster in their den and now it's their turn to go out into the wicked storm and try to seek help from the others. They see a light up ahead and can smell the scent of ginger and cinnamon..... mmmmmm!

"The wind is cold and the night is dark. In exchange for some cookies, would you share your shelter with us?'

Who do you suppose the animals were that reached out to this devastated family in their desperate time of need and welcomed them warmly into their abode? I think you can guess right?

This is a sweet story that has a wonderful life lesson to proclaim. Its message is simple and clear... take a risk, reach out to those in need and be kind and generous to them. The principal of reciprocity rings true - we pay back what we receive from others, in other words, if John does you a favour, you're likely to return it to him. What goes around comes around is another way of putting it.

The illustrator uses warm soft colours to visually tell the tale. The ink and watercolour illustrations are perfect for the narrative. I highly recommend this book.