I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride is Freya Novak’s first children’s book, and I suspect readers like me hope there’s more to come soon. Here’s why…
Back in the day, elevator operators were a standard fixture in hotels. They added a level of sophistication to the building. While the job is becoming obsolete, you can still find operators in historic establishments. As the doors to the Ragtag Hotel open, we meet Dallas Dingo, their elevator operator extraordinaire. Kids might wonder why riders needed a special person to push their floor number. That question could lead to a discussion of the evolution of the elevator and those who maintained it. For this story, the author kept it simple. Listen for the ping and wait for which animal is set to board the container next. No previous knowledge of elevator attendants is needed. Just sit back and enjoy the comedic ride.
On a scorching day, the animals in the storybook are all heading to the same floor, 14. Colin Capybara is the first to join Dallas Dingo on the elevator, greeting him with a ‘Hola,’ which is ‘Hello’ in Spanish. This greeting and others in the story are translated for readers, enhancing their understanding of different languages without distracting them from the main dialogue or scenery. The consistent use of dark blue for the greetings and their translations is a fantastic feature that allows readers to learn simple greetings in multiple languages, adding an educational element to the story.
This particular contraption was the clown car of the elevators. When you think no more animals could possibly fit, the machine rings, signaling a new rider is about to board. I loved the variety of animal riders. The author chose animals rarely seen in many children’s picture books. Oona Ostrich, Queenie Quokka, Tiny Tarsier, Ami Armadillo, and Oma Okapi accompanied Colin Capybara and Dallas Dingo on the lift as they climbed to level 14. Why to level 14? What awaits the six passengers there? It has a lot to do with the sweltering heat outside. As temperatures rise for many of us, readers might guess what’s on every animal’s mind to beat this blistering heatwave. (Read the story to see if your guess is correct!)
At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride was filled to the brim with positive qualities.It featured a variety of animals that readers, young and old, may not recognize. Yeah, that includes me with the okapi. What a delightful and unique-looking animal that shares characteristics with giraffes and zebras. This story also enlightened viewers on how other ethnicities greet one another, hopefully generating interest to learn more words from the languages presented: Spanish, Swahili, Lingala, and Filipino. And the icing on the cake was the comedic aspect. I didn’t think Oona Ostrich would fit on the elevator with their large body, but they did. I really didn’t believe Oma Okapi would squeeze their striped backside into the lift, but they proved me wrong, too. The hilarity hit the mark when the elevator finally began climbing to the 14th floor with all seven animals on board (six riders plus the operator). Their facial expressions spoke volumes! Would they make it, or would their combined weight break the box? READ the story and find out.
Looking to beat the heat this summer? Seeking a book that’ll have your kids LOL? Read At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride and then consider cooling off like the animals in this fantastic tale!
My recommended reading age is 6 years and up.
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score: ❤❤❤❤1/2
Meet the Author
