July 1, 2024
In his second outing, Rufus, a hairy canine snappily clad in a jacket and bow tie, keeps "very important pooches" happy at Hotel Woofmore. Rufus must ensure that horror writer Silas Fang has a great vacation. The dark-caped German shepherd arrives in a scary car sporting a bat hood ornament, but he wants a break from all things macabre and requests "Unicorns! Bubbles! Rainbows!" Rufus, a "scaredy dog" through and through, is pleased, but when a few guests check in seeking a haunted hotel experience, Mr. Fang is ready to leave. Ms. Coco, the capable chihuahua manager, persuades everyone to stay, but trouble looms. Red pawprints appear...and is that a ghost? Mr. Fang threatens to go, but Rufus dazzles the writer with unicorn pupcakes baked by Chef Goodboyardee, and spa manager Sparkles prepares a poolside bubble bath. Rufus is working on the rainbow when the lights mysteriously go out. Uh-oh. Will the hotel's valued guest storm off? Turns out, Rufus has found a way to please Mr. Fang after all. Some of the spookier scenes employ black and purple hues, but fans of the first installment will still find amusing puns, cheerful doggy employees, and canine guests in quirky clothing; Woofmore lovers will be laughing, while new readers will eagerly jump right in. A smidge of scariness--with a light touch--and a lot of fun for dog lovers. (Chapter book. 6-9)
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November 1, 2024
Grades 1-3 Once again the Hilton for hounds welcomes a VIP (Very Important Pooch), as renowned horror novelist Silas Fang arrives with a surprising demand: a week of fun, for a change of pace, with no frights or spooky stuff. Naturally, things begin to go wrong at once, as Fang can't even be escorted to his elegantly appointed room by anxious-to-please host Rufus without seeing a trail of what looks like bloody paw prints, hearing a scream, and encountering a sheeted ghost. In the color illustrations lighting up every page of this easy-to-read chapter book, Cleland sets an all-canine cast endowed with human expressions and clothing in surroundings made only a bit less genteel by the visible farts Rufus emits when stressed (which is often). Fortunately, what threatens to become a doggy debacle winds up a romp: all the fuss turns out to have innocuous explanations (Chef Goodboyardee has spilled some spaghetti sauce, for instance), and Fang drives off at week's end declaring that he's had "furst-rate" treatment. A tail-wagger of a second episode.
COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
December 1, 2024
Gr 1-3-Rufus and friends are back in this second book of the laugh-out-loud, full-color illustrated chapter book series centering around the Woofmore Hotel for dogs. When Silas Fang, a famous author of spooky books, comes to stay at the hotel, Rufus worries that he will be as scary as his books. When Mr. Fang arrives, however, he surprises Rufus by announcing that he came to the Woofmore to take a break from scary things. Relieved, Rufus sets about trying to make the hotel as welcoming and happy as possible. But the hotel has other plans! Bloody footprints (or is it ketchup?), screams of fear (or is it delight?) threaten to derail Rufus's attempts to keep Mr. Fang happy. Can Rufus turn things around in time? Sweet and hilarious, this story will delight young readers who like a little spookiness in their stories. Rufus is a funny and sympathetic main character who toots when he's nervous and doesn't understand why anyone would want to be scared on purpose. Cleland's endearing artwork enhances the high jinks and brings the characters to life. VERDICT Recommended for purchase in all collections.
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