Tuesday, July 25, 2017

#road2reading Challenge - Heartwood Hotel series 7.25.17


All journeys have a starting place.
This is a weekly place to find books and tools 
that you may use with readers at the start of their reading journey.
Join in the conversation at #road2reading.


One thing is for sure, readers have taste in many different books - different genres, different formats.  Another sure thing, animal books are very very popular!  I'm so excited to find this series for young readers!

Heartwood Hotel, Book 1 A True Home       Heartwood Hotel, Book 2: The Greatest Gift (Heartwood Hotel, The)
Heartwood Hotel series
A True Home and The Greatest Gift
written by Kallie George
illustrated by Stephanie Graegin
published by Disney-Hyperion


This new transitional chapter book series is sure to be a crowd pleaser.  All of the characters are animals and the setting takes place in an animal hotel.  Where could this hotel be?  Why, in a hollowed out tree of course!  Wondering what it might look like?  Take a look at the end pages where you can see a detailed look at all the different rooms available!  And if you want a closer up view, you'll get that within the book at the pencil illustrations by the very talented Stephanie Graegin.  Readers will delight in meeting the guests of the Heartwood Hotel.  There is often a spotlight on one guest, which is helpful for young readers to keep track of the characters.  Although many are mentioned, readers do not need to keep track of them, which could throw them off.  The plot lines and solutions are straight forward.  There are multiple events that have an effect on the main problem, but not multiple problems that are woven together.

Author Kallie George is no stranger to animals books.  She's already the author of the fun series, The Magical Animal Adoption Agency.  Both series are great transitional chapter book series.  Perfect for readers who are looking for a bit more sophisticated chapter book, but not quite a middle grade level book.

The first two books in the series are available now.  The third book is scheduled to publish in February 2018.

Heartwood Hotel:  A True Home summary:
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 souffl 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.



Heartwood Hotel:  The Greatest Gift summary:
Mona the mouse has finally found a place to call home, the cozy Heartwood Hotel, where she works as a maid and sleeps snuggled up in a room with her best friend. Following the festive St. Slumber celebration, most of the guests have settled in to hibernate, and the staff is looking forward to a relaxing winter. But disruptions abound, from a difficult duchess to a mysterious midnight snacker. As the snow stacks higher, Mona will have to gather friends both old and new to keep the peace, finding help in some of the most unexpected places. The second book in the enchanting Heartwood Hotel series, The Greatest Gift will warm your heart with its endearing characters and exquisite illustrations.


Don't miss Alyson's post about some early reader chapter books she's been reading.

Want to talk about books for readers who are on the #road2reading?  Link up here!

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