[1] In an interview, illustrator LeUyen Pham said that she knew what the finished book would look like immediately after reading the manuscript and she eagerly accepted the commission.

[2] Pham felt that the book came at a time that the United States was divided and gave her a chance to tell a story of unity.

"[2] Librarian Brian Wilson, writing for Horn Book, describing the text as "action-packed yet reflective" and noted the way Morris' repeated use of 'until' propels the plot and creates structure for the illustrations.

[3][6] Several critics wrote specifically about the book's climatic waterfall sequence, viewed in the animal's first person perspective.

"[6][7] Critics noted Pham's use of colors from dull grays to vibrant hues as complementary to the book's themes of friendship and the importance of connections and relationships with others.

[7][9] Critics also praised the way the illustrations were laid out, including Pham's effective use of double page spreads and panels.

[10] In a positive review, Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, writing in School Library Journal, noted that "its large-scale, immersive pictures expansively invite readers to come along.

[8] The book also received a starred review from Ilene Cooper of Booklist who praised Pham's illustrations as "sensational and silly.

"[11] The book received a 2020 Caldecott Honor with a citation that noted how "the river comes to life with Pham’s energetic lines, gradual increase of vivid color, and surprising page turns to form a rollicking adventure and bonding connections.