Take a tour of the famous Parker Hotel, where there's a lot of horseplay…and camel play, and lion play, and….Vivid digital photographs depict a bevy of animals wandering around the hotel and its grounds. Maurice, the concierge, welcomes you. He's an expressive monkey in a red fez. "HOP over," and get a key from Wally the desk clerk, who's a kangaroo. The owner, Mr. Parker, is a majestic lion. A camel stands near the pool, then roams the halls, looking for her room. (She's a guest, and her name is Callie.) There's an ostrich playing tennis, flamingos having a party, and an elephant named Eliza charging down a path surrounded by tall hedges and studded with colorful balloons. The pastry chef is a small white pig named Pierre; he has baked the guests some delicious treats, which Maurice is happy to serve. Expressive Maurice can be spotted all over the complex, fiddling with the TV remote, snuggling in a king-size bed, playing ping-pong. He also waves goodbye to readers at the end of this tour of the Parker. The text, which arbitrarily capitalizes various words, reads like the voice-over it essentially is. An author's note explains that the real Parker Hotel in Palm Springs inspired his work and informs readers that the animals were photographed in situ.Children and hotels don't seem like a natural fit, but Malin's superb and ingenious photographs should amuse a broad range of readers. (Picture book. 4-8)

The Parker Hotel -is very ORDINARY,- insists Maurice the concierge. -But we love it here.- Ordinary is definitely a relative concept in this instance: the hotel is staffed and visited entirely by animals (the guests include a camel, an ostrich, and a zebra), and Maurice, who takes readers on a tour of the premises, is a capuchin monkey. In his first book for children, Malin, who specializes in lush travel photography, has created a junior version of a coffee table book. The images, all shot on location at the actual Parker Hotel in Palm Springs, are saturated with color, the pool shimmers under the desert sky, and the lighting gives all the animals an old-school Hollywood glamour. The novelty of the concept never entirely overcomes the sense of posed inertness in the images, which may be why Malin-s text seems to be trying too hard, with unimaginative wordplay set in all-caps colored type (an elephant is -CHARGING ahead- to a party). There-s no denying, however, that Maurice has real star power, especially when he demonstrates the superiority of the Parker-s beds by jumping on them balletically and snuggling between the covers. Ages 4-8. (May)

PreS-Gr 2 A monkey concierge named Maurice welcomes readers to stay at the Parker Hotel. Maurice gives readers a tour and introduces the staff and clientele, all sorts of wild animals, all of which are enjoying the various amenities available. One of the most notable features of this book is the vivid photographs of the beastly guests, including a tiger and flamingos, captured in the hallways, bedrooms, and by the pool. Other creatures are shown wearing various hats. Pierre, the pastry chef, is a piglet, and Mr. Parker, the owner, is a lion. (He "takes PRIDE in our hotel and its majestic grounds.") Colorful items such as balloons, flags, and food items are sprinkled throughout the photographs adding details for readers to pore over. VERDICT A fantastical and fun hotel that will capture the attention and interest of young children. This extraordinary vacation destination will spark many return visits. Deanna Smith, Pender County Public Library, NC