Thousand Star Hotel Hardcover – March 7, 2017

Gr 1–3—A fun, folksy twist on “The Fisherman and His Wife.” Every day, two muskrats leave their ramshackle cabin to go fishing. Mr. Muskrat hopes that they’ll catch enough fish to make them rich. His wife just hopes they’ll catch their dinner. One day, Mr. Muskrat hooks a magic catfish who promises them a wish if they’ll let him go. While Mrs. Muskrat wants to wish for practical things, her husband has more extravagant ideas: a big house, then a mansion, then a 1,000-star hotel. The catfish says the magic words, and the muskrats rush off to see if their wish has been granted. Instead, they find their same ramshackle cabin; the only difference is that the old willow tree out front has fallen down. Mr. Muskrat is upset until they go inside and discover that the hole in their roof allows them to see a thousand stars above their heads. Awed by the beauty, Mr. Muskrat realizes what his wife knew all along—that they only ever needed the simple things. The illustrations are distinct and add to the Americana flavor of the story. The language is lively and complements the visuals. Children will delight in reciting the catfish’s magic words each time. This title is more suited for slightly older readers, as some pages are lengthier than others. This offering also comes with a 12-track CD of original Okee Dokee Brothers songs (one track is also the audio recording of the book, which is helpful for beginning readers who want to follow along). The songs are fun additions and would be enjoyable during dance-specific programs or as a way to end storytime. VERDICT A charming retelling of a traditional tale, suitable for storytime or independent reading.—Paige Garrison, The Davis Academy, Sandy Springs, GA