Review - Hotel Bruce

Hotel Bruce (Bruce #2)
by Ryan T. Higgins
Date: 2016
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 38
Format: hardcover
Source: library

When Bruce gets home from a southern migration trip with his goslings, he is tired. He is grumpy. And he is definitely not in the mood to share his home with the trio of mice who have turned his den into a hotel.

There's a possum pillow fight wreaking havoc in one room, a fox luring guests into a stew in the kitchen, and a snuggly crew of critters hogging the bed. Bruce growls and grumbles and tries to throw them all out, but the entrepreneurial mice just can't take a hint. Bruce is in a little over his head, especially once the goslings join the staff. Will this grumpy bear ever get his quiet, peaceful den back to himself?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Our library only had books #1 and #3 in e-book format, and I already read those, so I'm going back and trying to read the ones I missed in hardcover.

This is the second book in Bruce's series. It doesn't really stand on its own. I mean, I guess it can, but it's a lot more fun when you've read the first book and you understand the relationship between Bruce and his goslings. In this installment, he's just come back from taking the kids south (on a bus!) and returns to find that three enterprising mice have turned his house into a hotel. The intruders have even put up new wallpaper!

There are plenty of clever little things to look at in the pictures, and I loved the fox chef trying to coax the turtles into the "bath". Bruce's reaction is predictable, both for a bear and for someone who's had his space violated.

The only thing I'm not really sure about is the ending. It's kind of abrupt, and it almost seems like there's something missing. Having read the next book in the series--which is about the mice--I'm even more confused. I guess I'll have to read the fourth book to see what happens to Bruce and his family.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4.17 out of 5