Floors
Book 1
Patrick Carman

Scholastic Press
September 1, 2011 / ISBN: 0545255198
Fantasy / Ages 8 and up (tweeners)
Amazon

Reviewed by Brenda Weeaks

Imagine finding a children’s book fascinating enough to keep a child’s interest and it doesn’t include witches, vampires, or magic, etc…

“Floors” is all about a boy named Leo, who sets out to solve the mystery of the hotel’s missing owner.

Leo and his father take care of the Whippet Hotel. Job requests are delivered on tickertape that comes right out the jaws a shark hanging on the wall. Leo’s mom passed away. Leo and his dad live in the basement and sleep on cots. They are actually content with their lives because they love what they do, which is taking care of a very unusual hotel. There are others who stay in the hotel, too. They are all unique in their own way. The new doorman is a boy Leo’s age and he joins in on the secret of the missing owner. The rooms are wonderfully weird. I love the idea of the cake room!

The Whippet is a small hotel on a big piece of prime property and someone wants to take it over. As Leo tries to find out what happened to Mr Whippet the owner, someone tries to sabotage the hotel. It’s up to Leo and his new friend to find out what’s going on. It’s a wild ride with some crazy cool characters, unusual inventions and zany rooms.

What an entertaining debut in a promising new series. Kids will embrace Leo and this wonderful hotel and use their imaginations as they try to create the floors in their own minds.