A very delightful read with both magic, and a little bit of mystery! A quest to save a museum from some less-than-savory characters and potential water damage needs a child with imagination.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* pretty cute book, would recommend for kids who like fantasy, slow on getting started tho

I'm not really sure what I expected from this book but it wasn't this. I wasn't expecting taxidermied animals coming to life. A magic stone that allows a pygmy hippo to become a mythical creature able to work magic. The plot actually works fairly well for all of it's strangeness and inexplicable elements.

It was one of the best middle-grade books I had read in a while. I was so overwhelmed by my love for this book and its magical components involving animals that I had already sought out to buy it in the middle of the reading.

I also had to take myself away from the book before writing a review because I could think was, 'I love it'.

It is not just the characters that I love, even the villainous ones but how the problem propelled in the front of a young boy seemed like a relatable deal to me and made me wonder what would I do in a situation as such and what would I have done at his age. Slowly as the magical components weaved in, the story took my breath away.

I am defiantly going to recollect the story to many of my nieces and nephews (and gift them).

Dnf around 25%

<i>The Hippo at the End of the Hall</i> started off so strong - the writing was lyrical and beautiful, the hook was interesting, and the whole story seemed infused with magic.

Unfortunately, the magic leaks out pretty quickly, and the story wanders off into a place I didn't quite get. It involves taxidermied animals whose - what, spirit? Consciousness? Lingers on and can talk to children (but not to adults, who only hear what they expect to hear).

Morbid, but pretty standard. What I found harder to get behind was that these were all African animals "collected" by Victorian British colonizers. There's no real critique of any of this as far as I can tell, and I just can't wade through the muddle the story dissolved into anymore.

I received a free copy of the ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am sad I waited so long to read this one! By the time I could get to it, there wasn't as much hype around it, and so I kept putting it off... it is easy to say this one surprised me. I read the whole thing in one day. I was drawn in by the magic. I liked the small mystery, and just enough family drama. I think it was a little slow to start - I remembered thinking in the beginning that I wasn't liking it that much, but probably around 15% or so, I was hooked.

I would definitely recommend this one. I loved the animals, the history museum aspect, and the magic was fun. I don't think my ARC had all the illustrations placed correctly, but I would bet the illustrations in the final copy keep the book engaging for younger readers. This book is definitely suitable for the lower aged middle grade readers, and wouldn't hesitate giving it as a gift to my children or extended family, or even their friends.

New and enjoyable book. For those that love the magic that museums offer, this book is for you. It was an alluring story, and it was fun to read.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley in return for my honest review.

So happy to see and read this book by Helen Cooper, one of my most beloved illustrator/authors. I have cherished and enjoyed her picture books ( http://helencooperbooks.co.uk/books/) for years so was happy to read a copy of The Hippo at the End of the Hall. The book is intended for ages 9-12 audience but with its delightful illustrations and magical story - it could easily appeal to a reader of any age. . The story involves a young boy, Ben, and his efforts to save a rather curious museum. He is aided by magical creatures and an intriguing elderly woman who owns the museum. I enjoyed the plot and characters and felt rather bewitched by the entire story. I hope Cooper continues to write and illustrate chapter books because this one was a charming experience!

This book was ok but it never grabbed my attention. I read it in bits every few days. But I felt bored while reading it. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for a middle grade book.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I think third graders and other intermediate readers will find this story appealing, especially those that like curiosities and museums. Toss in a bit of magic and a couple of nefarious adults who want to buy the museum for their own purposes, then there is Ben who received a mysterious invitation to go to the museum and when he arrives he knows he has been there once before.
#ARC #TheHippoAtTheEndOfTheHall #NetGalley

The Hippo at the End of the Hall is a chapter fantasy book for middle readers by Helen Cooper. Released 8th Oct 2019 by Candlewick Press, it's 352 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats.

This book charmed me from the very first page. The elements of a classic fantasy are skillfully interwoven: a museum full of magic which is threatened by evil property development and skullduggery, a likeable 'everykid' protagonist, some fairly clueless but well meaning adults, and magical bees plus a hippo. The story and illustrations remind me in a very good way of Roald Dahl. There's something special about books for younger readers whose authors are NOT afraid to shy away from crises in their stories. This book isn't all gentleness and sugary sweetness. The antagonists are creepy, sleazy, and straight up mean.

The illustrations are wonderful. The early eARC which I received had intentionally lowered resolution in order to maintain a reasonable transfer file size, but even slightly fuzzy, they were magical. I -loved- the illustrations and to me, they were probably the highlight. I really really enjoyed the afterword by the artist/author and I imagine the encouraging words, read by young artists, would be particularly timely and welcome.

It's a standalone, but the setup and denouement certainly wouldn't rule out more stories, and I hope there are more in store. This is a very special book, and I encourage anyone who likes fantasy, magic, art, or museums to read this one.

Five stars.

Ben has lived alone with his mom ever since his father died when he was little. When an invitation to a mysterious, odd museum called The Gee Museum arrives addressed to him, it stirs up a vague memory of time spent with his father - and sets his mother on edge, although she won't say why. Ben goes to the old museum and meets a group of talking animals, all waiting for him. They tell him that the museum is in danger, and he's the only one who can save it - the proprietress is old and tired of keeping it going, and the people she's considering selling it to - a greedy landlord who's also trying to force Ben's mom out of business and their home, and a rival museum's director who plans to scavenge the most valuable pieces and junk the rest - don't have the Gee's best interests at heart. As Ben unravels the secrets of the Gee, and the mysterious hippo and his place among all the animals, he finds answers about his father and his family that will fill a missing piece he's lived with for too long.

The Hippo at the End of the Hall is an steadily building tale that blends the fantastic with a story of family and of memory. Ben and his mom are likable characters that stick together, even when one's annoyed at the other: kind of like real moms and kids, right? The animals have individual personalities that set them apart from one another and bring them right into the story, and the human characters have history that's never completely given away, yet feel fully formed and built up - Helen Cooper leaves us to wonder and imagine the wonderful adventures that took place before we joined the group. The black-and-white illustrations throughout add a vintage feel to the atmosphere, bringing the Gee Museum to life under your fingertips. Magical museums and magical creatures, two terrible baddies, and a family putting itself back together make this a book to booktalk to your Jumanji fans, your Night at the Museum fans (schedule a showing of the movies!), and your magical realism fans.

Thanks to NetGally and Candlewick for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Description
When Ben receives a mysterious invitation to an odd museum, he’s swept into a peculiar world of forgotten secrets and wild magic in this illustrated novel.

The invitation to the Gee Museum was delivered by bees. It wasn’t addressed to anyone, but Ben knows that it was meant for him. Why else would the images on the postcard have stirred up memories of his father, who was lost at sea long ago? Ben makes his way to the old dilapidated building to find a host of curious talking animals awaiting his arrival. They are certain he is the only one who can save the museum. But Ben and the animals in the Gee collection will have to outwit a devious rival museum owner and a greedy land developer. With a bit of luck, some strange magic, and a little help from his mom, Ben might succeed in ensuring the future of the museum — and finding the answers about his father that he’s been searching for his whole life. Helen Cooper’s first novel brims with mystery and hope, and her lovely illustrations bring the wonders of the Gee Museum to life.

Wow! This middle grade book held my interest from start to finish! A beautiful, magical world created inside a museum. Talking animals, a witch? The perfect place for Ben to learn some family history while he tries to save the museum. It's filled with whimsy and drew me in immediately. The illustrations were exquisite. I absolutely loved and enjoyed the pencil drawings.

This was a cute story about a boy finding his place in life and a family rediscovering magic. I really did enjoy Ben’s story and the magic that it encompassed. There was a great history of the family and the museum that really helped the reader feel that they were a part of it.
The writing throughout the novel was quite clear and very descriptive. The illustrations that accompanied the story were the perfect addition. There were some words that were way over the intended reading level, yet could easily be passed over without losing the meaning. There were a couple of times that I felt the story dragged a bit, but these were short and had ample action in between.
This was a fun romp that I think young readers will devour quickly and even enjoy as a read along with parents.

A strange invitation to the Gee Museum arrives at Ben's house. His mom is always busy with her shop, so he decides to go by himself. Turns out, the museum is a very magical place and some bad people are trying to destroy it. Ben knows that he has to do everything he can to save the museum and its magical exhibits.

This is such a magical story for middle grade kids! The Gee Museum seems like such a fantastical place! I wish it was real....I would definitely be first in line to have a tour!

The story is pure magic. The illustrations are awesome! This book would be great to read out loud at home or in a classroom/homeschool setting. It would be so easy to incorporate all sorts of lessons along with the story...writing prompts, a trip to a local museum, art projects....lots of possibilities!

Well-written. Colorful, vibrant front cover. Engaging illustrations. Very enjoyable book!!

This is the first book by Helen Cooper that I've read. I love to read children's books, so I'm sure I will be reading more of her work! She's written quite a few middle grade books. As I looked through her list, I definitely saw more than just a couple that I want to read!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Candlewick Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

After receiving a mysterious invitation to an obscure museum, Ben finds himself in an enchanted place where the animal exhibits are magically alive. They help Ben unravel the mystery of his family connection to the museum, battle a witch who has been trapped in a bottle for a hundred years, and save the museum from greedy developers. The whimsical story of the first half leads to a frenzied, action-packed second half, but it is all enjoyable. The sometimes-strained but loving relationship between Ben and his mom gives the book a real-life grounding. After reading the book, kids will surely want to visit their local museum!

The Hippo at the End of the Hall by Helen Cooper is a delightful romp into a magical museum. I really enjoyed following Ben as he discovered the eccentricities of the Gee Museum, and in the process, discovers his own history and sets the course for his future.

I loved this book. It makes me want to discover a magical museum to have such a grand adventure of my own. The writing was wonderful and the story flowed along and I didn’t want to it to stop. I really cheered for the characters and each one was so fun to get to know. The villains were marvelous and created the perfect motivation to get the story off and running. I hope there will be more adventures at the Gee Museum. I highly recommend this book for kids and adults alike.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Hippo at the End of the Hall is a fun and adventurous tale of a mysterious museum, a family's loss, and a young boy who wants to connect with his long lost father.
When Ben receives an invitation to the museum in town, his mother is hesitant to let him go. Ben feels drawn to the museum but doesn't understand why. Sneaking away from school, Ben finds himself at the museum overhearing property developers pressuring the elderly owner to sell the museum. Even more startling, the extensive collection of taxidermy animals has come alive and is speaking to Ben! With the animal's help, Ben must find a way to save the museum and discover the meaning behind the undeniable connection he feels to the museum and it's owner.
It's a wonderfully written story full of adventure and magic. I found it be highly enjoyable and felt it handled the more sensitive topics very well. This would be a great read for children ages 8-12.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions are my own.

I read this book with my 9 year old son and he really enjoyed it!

The Hippo at the End of the Hall is a middle grade novel that is one part "Night at the Museum" with a dash of whimsy and a lot of fun. In this book, Ben lives with his single mom in an apartment in the same building as the small shop she runs. They are frequently low on money and life is not great. Then Ben receives a mysterious invitation (delivered by bees!!) to the Gee Museum. Ben finds his way to the museum and his adventure begins. It includes bad guys who are plotting to buy/ruin the museum, talking taxidermy animals, magic, family lore, and more.

There were no dull moments in this book. Yet, it wasn't over the top. This is a magical book that makes you want to visit museums and discover their secrets. Also, the author's sketches throughout the book were wonderful. Highly recommend.

Ahhhhh this book was so much fun to read. What an adventure! Great characters and a well thought out plot! Page Turner!