“The Grand Hotel of Feelings” - Lidia Branković
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“The Grand Hotel of Feelings” - Lidia Branković
Language of book for review:
English - “The Grand Hotel of Feelings
Published also in:
German - “Das Grand Hotel der Gefühle”
Brazilian Portuguese - “O Grande Hotel dos Sentimentos”
"The Grand Hotel of Feelings" by Lidia Branković is a whimsical and insightful picture book that transforms the complex world of emotions into an imaginative hotel where every feeling is a guest. Aimed at children aged 4–8, the story follows a hotel manager who welcomes a diverse array of feelings, each with unique needs—Anger, loud and demanding space to scream; Sadness, quiet and prone to flooding the bathroom; Gratitude, serene and fond of nature. Branković’s metaphor is both accessible and profound, offering young readers a tangible way to understand and accept their emotions as transient visitors, not permanent residents. The message is empowering, emphasizing that all feelings, even the tricky ones, deserve acknowledgment, though it risks oversimplifying by implying emotions merely “pass through” without addressing deeper, persistent struggles some children might face.
Branković’s illustrations, rich with painterly textures and surreal characters, are a visual feast, turning the hotel into a fantastical playground of little ghosts, mermaids, and dragonfly creatures. The art brilliantly captures the essence of each emotion, though the final page’s depiction of other “hotels” veers into cultural stereotypes (e.g., a Middle Eastern–style palace with a flying carpet), which feels jarring and unnecessary. While the book excels as a conversation starter for social-emotional learning, its whimsical tone might benefit from a nod to the reality that some feelings require more than patience to manage. Nonetheless, this charming debut, rooted in Branković’s own emotional journey, is a valuable tool for parents and educators, blending humor, warmth, and creativity to foster emotional literacy.
