School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3-Another picture book starring Larry, that fortunate polar bear whose mishaps only serve to solidify his position as the beloved lifeguard at the Hotel Larry. This story begins when young Mildred Frobisher, daughter of the hotel proprietors, answers a call from a frantic ice-cream store owner; Larry has eaten an eighth of a ton of ice cream while resting in her walk-in freezer. The resulting publicity catches the eye of businessman I. Berg, who hires Larry as his celebrity spokesbear, complete with his own line of ice-cream bars, with flavors running from arctic almond to codfish, and the ad slogan: "I do not feel sick." As before, Larry's warmhearted and literal interpretations of the human world lead to hilarious misunderstandings. Daniel Pinkwater's masterful deadpan humor appeals to somewhat sophisticated tastes, despite the book's childlike look. The pen-and-marker illustrations convey the immense impact of Larry's presence on his human family. The combination of the absurd with the kindness of true friendship makes this a solid purchase.-Pat Leach, Lincoln City Libraries, NE (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Larry the polar bear returns in this story of how the frozen Larry Bar motto, I do not feel sick, came to be. After eating 250 pounds of ice cream at Cohen's Cones, Larry is discovered by the Iceberg Ice-Cream Company, and the rest is history. Older readers will especially appreciate the dry humor in both text and illustrations. From HORN BOOK Fall 1999, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Ages 4^-8. Told in Pinkwater's typically wry, conversational style, this picture book offers another installment in the life of Larry, the polar bear who lives at a hotel. This time Larry gets into a bit of trouble when he gobbles up 250 pounds of ice cream. However, his love of ice cream leads to fame, a new flavor of ice cream that he particularly enjoys (codfish), and a daily supply of 50 ice-cream bars. Jill Pinkwater's cheery pictures on bright white pages admirably reflect Larry's genial disposition and capture the warm feelings the members of Larry's hotel family have for him. Picture-book audiences won't need to know the other books to enjoy this one, and with large type and a fairly substantial text, the book will be a good choice for second-and third-graders to read on their own. --Susan Dove Lempke
