Kirkus Review
The diminutive staff members of Hotel Strange find themselves dismayed when their guests all show up on opening dayMarch 21and they are both completely unready and still swathed in snow. And "strange" really is the order of the day. Many of the creatures in this graphic novel look as though they're made of yarn, especially the Grouchies, tall, shaggy things who are shaped like bowling pins. That's the joy of the book: none of the character designs makes any concession to reality. There's a character who looks like a mushroom with antlers and a character whose face looks like an inkblot. Nothing in the book is more plausible than it needs to be. The Grouchies carry the wind around in a bag, and Winter is a large, bearded man who rides through the snow on a toboggan. The plotwhat there is of ithas to do with the search for Mr. Spring, who's gone missing. Readers after plot will find that the story has a satisfying beginning, middle, and end. But there's almost more enjoyment in the small details, like Mr. Winter sitting in a room filled with cuckoo clocks, knitting a scarf. Some readers may just stare at the pictures, counting the dozens of tiny creatures in every scene, which is a satisfying experience all by itself. This daffy adventure kicks off a series, and readers will be hoping for a speedy return to Hotel Strange. (recipe for sponge cake) (Graphic fantasy. 7-11) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
The inhabitants of Hotel Strange human girl Marietta; Mr. Leclair, the rat night watchman; rascally, purple monster Kiki; and ghostly hotel guest-book Mr. Snarf enjoy their long winter nap, but when guests bang on the hotel's door, they learn they've overslept. It's already March 21, the first day of spring, and it's time to get the hotel up and running. Their usual first guest, Mr. Spring, is nowhere to be found, so Marietta and her friends journey into the wintry woods to find him. First, they must track down grouchy Mr. Winter, but they encounter lots of peril on the way. Will they ever find Mr. Spring? This French import features clearly drawn, detailed, and expressive full-color art with imaginative figures and an engaging adventure story. Though one of the friends looks like a boy but smokes a pipe, which might concern some adults, the general atmosphere is pleasantly fable-like. As an added bonus, there's a recipe for Marietta's favorite sponge cake on the final page. Perfect for fans of Luke Pearson's Hilda series.--Kan, Kat Copyright 2015 Booklist
