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Sunday, February 19, 2017

Hotel Bruce, written and illustrated by Ryan T. Higgins. Disney Hyperion, Hachette. 2016. $18.99 ages 5 and up

"He turned them out of the house and headed to bed. That's when the trouble started. It was a long night.
Can I have a glass of water?
You're hogging the sheets.
I want to snuggle.
I need to pee."

Oh, my! Poor Bruce ... those geese are at it again. What is a Papa Bear to do now? As he did in Mother Bruce (Disney-Hyperion, 2015), this burly bear continues to chaperone four geese as they migrate to Florida every winter. He has, after all, been adopted as their mother and he sees it as his duty.

Upon returning one spring, he is more than grumpy to find mice living in his house. They have turned it into a hotel! Bruce is quick to rid himself of the unwelcome rodents. He hasn't considered the overnight guests in need of his care.

The morning is no better. As the day goes on, his troubles multiply. The mice mak a return visit, and his geese become bellhops. The manager does not respond to his request for an audience, the cook's turtle soup is a disaster, and the kitchen has been dismantled. Bruce is ready to explode! And then, it gets worse. It is all he can take -

"THIS IS NOT A HOTEL!
THIS IS MY HOUSE!
EVERYBODY OUT RIGHT NOW!"

Kids and adults will love everything about this book - the textured images that fill its pages, the often scathing and oh, so funny facial expressions, the wonderful telling, and the chaos exhibited as Bruce tries to overcome his tired grumpiness and be the epitome of parental understanding and support.
                                                                          

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