Freya Novak's At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride follows a vibrant bunch of characters on their way up to the 14th floor in an elevator. Featuring colorful illustrations, this children's book opens with Dallas Dingo brightly welcoming the residents of the Ragtag Hotel on an elevator ride. It's a hot summer's day, and the air conditioning is not working. Colin Capybara wants to go up to the 14th floor as soon as he can. And so does Oona Ostrich. Before long, Queenie Quokka, Tiny Tarsier, Amie Armadillo, and Oma Okapi join Colin and Miss Oona in the packed elevator. Some of the residents can barely stand in the sweltering heat. However, everyone is committed to making sure no one is left behind. But what exactly will they find on the 14th floor?

A breezy read from start to finish, At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride takes you on a fun-filled adventure ride you don't want to miss. This amusing children's picture book by Freya Novak underscores the values of teamwork and friendship through a captivating narrative that is hilarious and heartwarming in equal measure. There is no single main character in this story. Dallas Dingo seems like the main protagonist, but all the residents get more than enough page time to charm their way into your heart. The author also incorporates greetings from various international languages in the story, allowing each character to introduce themselves in their unique way. Anastasiya Halionka's illustrations are fantastic. They make the characters seem more expressive and add another layer to their lively personalities. Children will love this book. Recommended for kindergarteners and readers in early elementary school.

At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride by Freya Novak features a charming cast of animal characters in a unique setting. The story takes place on a hot day at the Ragtag Hotel, where Dallas Dingo, the always-enthusiastic elevator operator, manages the task of transporting guests to the mysterious fourteenth floor. Each character brings their own personality and quirks, creating a lively and humorous atmosphere. The story emphasizes the interactions among the animals as they squeeze into the increasingly crowded elevator. Colin Capybara, Oona Ostrich, Queenie Quokka, Tiny Tarsier, Amie Armadillo, and Oma Okapi each contribute their own traits, from Colin’s complaints about the heat to Oma’s worries about fitting into the elevator. The dialogue is playful and sprinkled with cultural greetings, adding a diverse flavor to the characters’ voices.

Anastasiya Halionka’s illustrations complement the text, capturing the personalities of the animals and the bustling energy of the elevator ride. The artwork is vibrant and detailed, making the story visually appealing. The pacing of the story is steady, building anticipation as more animals squeeze into the elevator. The tension peaks when the elevator begins to struggle under the weight of its passengers, leading to a humorous and satisfying conclusion as the guests finally reach their destination and rush to the rooftop pool. At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride is a delightful read offering humor, heart, and a touch of adventure. Freya Novak’s storytelling, combined with Halionka’s illustrations, creates a memorable read that will leave youngsters eager to revisit the story again and again.

One sweltering afternoon, Colin Capybara stumbled into an elevator at the Ragtag Hotel. The elevator was operated by Dallas Dingo, the Ragtag Hotel’s “jack of all trades” staff. Colin was headed for the fourteenth floor. The elevator’s ascent halted with a ping as Oona Ostrich ducked into it, lamenting about the weather. Oona was also headed for the fourteenth floor. Queenie Quokka and Tiny Tarsier soon joined on different floors; both were headed to the fourteenth floor. The elevator was worryingly tight at this point, but it did not stop Dallas from accepting two more residents on the ride, Amie Armadillo and Oma Okapi. As the elevator lurched up to the fourteenth floor, its occupants held their breath but were determined to reach their destination. Join Dallas Dingo in At The Ragtag Hotel (The Elevator Ride) by Freya Novak to find out what happens on the fourteenth floor.

At The Ragtag Hotel (The Elevator Ride) is a light-hearted story. I liked it most for its entertaining storyline and curious animal characters, and I was impressed by the colorful, captivating, and expressive illustrations by Anastasiya Halionka. Speaking of curious animal characters, I learned about a couple of new animals, some of which are indigenous to certain parts of the world. I also appreciated the vocabulary, which includes many intermediate English words and greetings in several languages, which I believe can help improve children’s vocabulary. I enjoyed this beautiful children's picture book by Freya Novak, and I recommend it. At The Ragtag Hotel has the makings of a great series, and I hope the author maximizes its potential.

At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride by Freya Novak is a humorous and charming children’s book that all ages can enjoy together. Dallas Dingo works at the Ragtag Hotel, where he is referred to as a “jack of all trades,” as he takes residents up and down the elevator all day long and does so with a cheery greeting. And that day, it was a horribly hot afternoon that brought residents sweating and desperate to be inside, with each asking to go to the fourteenth floor. Encounter a variety of animals from a cheery capybara to a quokka who faints to an armadillo with a quirky disposition. These characters squash together into the elevator, but as more and more pile in, they begin to worry if they’ll all fit inside. And why is everyone heading to the fourteenth floor?

Anastasiya Halionka's illustrations are full of life with animated characters that are expressive and possess distinct personalities. The story is humorous, and the illustrations support this tone. This gives children something to laugh at and helps make the story more humorous. The story focuses on Dallas Dingo as he encounters the various animals and greets each one in a special way, with a smile. These greetings are in different languages, with translations at the bottom of the pages. Freya Novak uses this as a subtle way to show Dallas Dingo is a welcoming and inclusive animal, as he gives each one an authentic greeting. It makes him friendly and personable, which are qualities that can teach young readers how to be kind and welcoming to everyone they meet. There’s also a fun mystery underlying the story, with each character wanting to go to the fourteenth floor. The visuals hint at how hot each character is, and the story highlights that it is like a sauna outside, which provides clues to the location at the end. The Elevator Ride is a funny story with playful visuals, humorous situational comedy in an elevator, and an adorable assortment of animals.