Thursday, August 6, 2020

A True Home (Heartwood Hotel #1) by Kallie George & Stephanie Graigin (Children's Chapter Book Review)


A True Home
(Heartwood Hotel #1)
Written by Kallie George
Illustrated by Stephanie Graigin
Published by Little, Brown Books
on July 3, 2017
Genre: Children's, Chapter Books, Animals
Length: 176 pages
Ages: 7 - 10 years





Literary Awards:
Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize Nominee (2018)
Shining Willow Award Nominee (2018)

Synopsis:
When Mona the Mouse stumbles across the wondrous world of the Heartwood Hotel in the middle of a storm, she desperately hopes they'll let her stay. As it turns out, Mona is precisely the maid they need at the grandest hotel in Fernwood Forest, where animals come from far and wide for safety, luxury, and comfort. But the Heartwood Hotel is not all acorn souffle and soft moss-lined beds. Danger lurks, and as it approaches, Mona finds that this hotel is more than a warm place to spend the night. It might also be a home. 

This delightfully enticing start of a new chapter book series tells a tale of friendship, courage, and community, with exquisite black and white illustrations throughout. 


Our Thoughts:
This is a super cute chapter book about a young mouse with no home or family that finds a true home!

Mona the Mouse gets swept away by a storm and finds herself at a grand oak called Heartwood Hotel. There's a party going on when she arrives and the owner generously allows her to stay the night in exchange for tidying up after the party guests. Everyone is kind and welcoming except for Tilly the Squirrel, but Mona is extra helpful and finds her place after all! 

I read this to my daughter and we both enjoyed it very much. The anthropomorphic animal characters were mostly kind and generous with real problems and worries and it was easy to root for and worry for Mona and the others. Of course, there were a few bleak moments, such as a big bear and even wolves, but Mona uses her big heart and keen mind to help out anywhere and everywhere she can!

This is the first in a trilogy so we're hoping to get our hands on them soon! 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

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