The Hippo at the End of the Hall

Gr 2-5--When a mysterious invitation to the Gee museum arrives at Ben's house, he's sure it's for him. Although his mother discourages him, Ben sneaks off to the museum, where he finds a menagerie of talking taxidermied animals, a colony of magic bees, and a host of oddities all in danger of losing their home. As the museum's troubles are revealed, Ben also learns about other secrets while working to save the collections from an evil developer and a rival museum. This fanciful tale will keep readers interested from the outset. The talking animals and miraculous museum are intriguing, and the illustrations are inviting. The fantasy is perfectly integrated into the fast-moving plot. There is a slightly evil witch, but overall the story is accessible to a wide age range. VERDICT Readers who are just beyond Mary Pope Osborne's "The Magic Treehouse" but not quite ready for J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" will find this a great fit. A fantastical, captivating illustrated novel that will appeal to many young fantasy readers.--Ellen Conlin, Naperville Public Library, IL

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

This supernatural tale of self-discovery in a setting of rare natural history specimens delivers a credible hero, folk-tale threads, memorable characters, and family bonds. Cooper's worldbuilding seems endlessly inventive, the characters that inhabit the museum fully realized, up to and including the storytelling bees...Unusual, fascinating, fast-paced.
—Kirkus Reviews

Picture-book creator Cooper weaves magic and mystery through her debut novel, wonderfully bringing the past to life and enhancing the present, as Ben endeavors to save the Gee Museum from a devious real-estate developer. Along the way, he learns of his family's history, draws upon knowledge gleaned from folktales, and befriends the museum's animals. Cooper incorporates many chapter illustrations, which add further charm to this uncommonly enchanting novel.
—Booklist

Readers who are just beyond Mary Pope Osborne's "The Magic Treehouse" but not quite ready for J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" will find this a great fit. A fantastical, captivating illustrated novel that will appeal to many young fantasy readers.
—School Library Journal

This book is a must read for those who love a combination of fantasy, museums, animals, and adventure.
—School Library Connection