February 26, 2024
Dapper dog Rufus and chic chihuahua Ms. Coco welcome guests to the grand opening of the Woofmore Hotel, where the water bowls are always full and kibble treats grace every pillow. All Woofmore guests are VIPs (Very Important Pooches), but Rufus and Ms. Coco are anticipating the arrival of an even more important pup: golden retriever Greta Garbark, “the biggest movie star in the world.” As puparazzi descend, Rufus hustles Ms. Garbark into the hotel (“they can’t hound you in here”), except she worries that fellow guests will pester her as well. Enlisting Sudsy Spa stylist Sparkles, Rufus shares his “pawfect idea” to help Ms. Garbark go incognito. She’s excited to finally vacation undisturbed, but there’s a “hitch (with an itch)”: fleas! Rufus and Ms. Coco fear that this will be the end of the Woofmore, until Ms. Garbark—wishing to repay Rufus’s kindness—comes up with a pawfect idea of her own. Playful puns by Gephart (Go Be Wonderful) and Houran (Cheese Fest!), accompanied by lovable characters expressively illustrated by Cleland (I Am Money) in vibrant colors and textures, set up this chapter book series for a howlingly good beginning. Ages 5–8.
March 15, 2024
A swanky new hotel welcomes its first VIP (Very Important Pooch). With a large hat, big sunglasses, and a recognizable voice, movie star Greta Garbark attracts attention everywhere she goes. Much like her real-life Hollywood counterpart, however, the retriever wants to be left alone, and Rufus, general hotel factotum at the Woofmore, is determined to make her happy at the behest of his boss, a brown Chihuahua named Ms. Coco. Rufus--a large, hairy canine with floppy ears, a bow tie, and a striped jacket--immediately thinks of a suitable disguise for Ms. Garbark. She's treated to a new "furstyle" and a "Pupster Purple" dye job at the Sudsy Spa. Now if she just stays quiet, no one will know it's her. Keeping the "puparazzi" at bay is easy enough, but soon Rufus notices the other guests scratching themselves. Could the hotel have a flea infestation? Luckily, Ms. Garbark may have the "pawfect" solution. Kids will be amused by earnest, endearing Rufus and his habit of passing gas when he's nervous (a joke that gets a bit strained over time). With puns galore and retro, caricaturelike illustrations depicting many dog breeds, including a "poodle in pearls" and a "husky in a hat," this funny early chapter book will easily find an audience, though adults may have to explain the references to Greta Garbo. A waggish new series tailor-made made for dog lovers. (Chapter book. 6-8)
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November 8, 2024
K-Gr 3-VIP (Very Important Pooch) Greta Garbark is a special guest seeking peace and quiet at the opening of the fancy Woofmore Hotel. Tiny Ms. Coco, the owner, puts our concierge, Rufus, (very large, of indeterminate breed) to the task. Quick-thinking and hoping to please, he arranges for the fur of the famous Golden Retriever to be dyed purple and is able to protect her anonymity...until a flea infestation threatens the hotel's reputation. Thankfully, the appreciative Greta comes up with the perfect, purple remedy. Gephart is a reader's writer. Her use of alliteration, onomatopoeia, and punny wordplay transform the work-a-day plot into a bouncy romp. Poor Rufus has a "nervous tooting" problem that young readers will enjoy, and the canine characters possess a lot of the same habits as the pups in our own homes. Illustrator Cleland adeptly creates bright, loose, retro illustrations on each page. Though only the great-grandparents of the reading audience will have any knowledge of Greta Garbo as the punny basis for the dog character, that choice may let the series enjoy a longer life than had Gephart chosen a more contemporary model. VERDICT Gephart's writing is strong and the dog hotel premise can easily be expanded for an audience in the ever-growing early chapter book genre.-Lisa Lehmuller
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