Children’s eBook Review – At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride by Freya Novak

AT THE RAGTAG HOTEL: THE ELEVATOR RIDE
By: Freya Novak
Illustrated by: Anastasiya Halionka
Published: June 12, 2025
Publisher: Freya Novak
Fiction

The air conditioner at the Ragtag Hotel isn’t working, and it’s a scorcher out. Suddenly, all the residents want to go to the 14th floor. Dallas is just about to head up on the elevator when several residents have had it with the heat. From a capybara to an ostrich to a quokka to an okapi and more, each joins the crowd on the elevator, greeting everyone in their native language.

Kids will learn how to say “Hello” in Spanish, Swahili, Filipino, and Lingala as each animal joins the elevator. Keep in mind, some of these animals take up a lot of space, and the elevator is getting tighter and tighter. Dallas the Dingo just wants to head to his next task, but the elevator is quite busy taking riders to the 14th floor. Can you guess what is on the 14th floor? Something cool and refreshing!

This story introduces new animals to readers as well as some cultural elements, such as where the animals might live and the language spoken there. Kids will naturally want to know more about each animal and might be interested in looking up more about where they live. The illustrations are adorable as well as accurate, even down to the striped bottom of the okapi.

This short children’s book is only available as an eBook on Amazon or in hardcover on the author’s website. So, if you like to have a variety of children’s books on your iPad for your child to read on the go, this low-cost title might be a good choice.

Freya Novak was born and raised in Perth, Western Australia. She developed a love for reading from a young age, with some of her favorite authors including L. M. Montgomery, Enid Blyton, and Beatrix Potter. Freya Novak published her debut children’s book, At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride, under a pseudonym.​​​​ Check out her website, HERE.

Anastasiya Halionka is a children’s book illustrator with 5+ years of experience. As a child, she loved to draw, but was told she couldn’t earn a living by drawing, so she got a law degree. Anastasiya decided to pursue her love of drawing and chose to illustrate children’s books. She uses digital art programs to create her characters and illustrations. She hopes her illustrations make kids smile.

Click HERE to purchase a copy of AT THE RAGTAG HOTEL: THE ELEVATOR RIDE

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Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to purchase through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.