Hotel Strange 3

Being monarch of the mushroom people turns out to require more than just giving orders and chowing down on sweets. As in prior series episodes, the pleasure lies at least as much in inspecting the paneled illustrations for surreal details and peculiar creatures as it does in following the plotline. Finding a crown and scepter on the forest floor, lazy Kiki--looking like nothing so much as a mittenlike, purple hand puppet--is immediately beguiled by the adulation and subservience of the motley crowd of fungi that rushes up to proclaim him king. Other residents of the Hotel Strange are less sanguine about this new status, but they agree to humor him. Then the idyll comes to a quick end when Kiki discovers that the royal palace is being eaten by a horde of voracious 'croco-mites.' Worse yet, when the mites combine into a mammoth 'croco-monster' after efforts to capture them fail, it looks like the hotel and its staff are next on the menu. Marietta and pipe-smoking Celestin, both light-skinned, childlike figures, lead a cast otherwise notably diverse in shape, species, and color to an end that is, thanks to the sudden return of the real Mushroom King with a remedy, happy for all including the mites. A recipe for hazelnut fondant (1 cup hazelnut flour, 5 eggs!) caps this latest outing to the bustling hotel in an appropriately delectable way.--Kirkus Reviews

The third entry of this ongoing series sees the residents of Hotel Strange hard at work making blackberry jam. When they run out of berries, Kiki is sent out to pick more and, along the way, finds a golden crown and scepter that makes him King of the Mushrooms. Kiki appreciates the loyal service the mushrooms offer him but finds that leadership is tough when he is tasked with solving the problem of protecting the kingdom from the croco-mites. Wise Celestin is brought in to solve the problem, though when the croco-mites take on a terrifying new form, it is only the true Mushroom King who has what it takes to save the day. The episodic storytelling makes it easy for young readers to follow the action, and the characterization provides the right balance of humor and heart. The pacing benefits from Florian Ferrier's experiences as a producer of animated television programs. The action is never too scary, and it's always compelling enough to hold readers' attention. Colorful panels feature fantastic creatures and monsters in lush woodland settings. As in previous installments, a recipe for a treat the characters enjoyed is included, though adult assistance will be required. VERDICT: Recommended where Luke Pearson's 'Hildafolk' series or Ben Hatke's Julia's House for Lost Creatures is popular.--School Library Journal