At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride
Freya Novak
Independently Published (2025)
ISBN: 978-1763588356
Reviewed by Jill Rey for Reader Views (07/2025)
Dallas Dingo greets guests and guides them up the elevator on this sweltering hot day at the Ragtag Hotel. From Colin Capybara to Oona Ostrich, Queenie Quokka, and Tiny Tarsier, author Freya Novak brings little-known animals to light as they make their way up to the fourteenth floor.
What’s on the fourteenth floor? Why is it so hot? And will another animal fit in Dallas’ elevator? At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride is such a fun and immersive reading experience for the whole family. Evoking the senses with the feel of the heat and the sounds of the elevator are just one of the ways Novak brings us along for the ride. Learning through the various animals and their languages makes this a parent’s dream. Offering Filipino and Swahili, Spanish and Lingala, the Ragtag Hotel is full of exciting visitors from all over the world.
Brought to life through Anastasiya Halionka’s illustrations, these characters fly off the page, sweat into the book’s folds, and pack onto the elevator. Offering lively portrayals of the various animals within, dressed as one might find them in movies such as Zootopia, Halionka guides this story with facial expressions, emotion, and the radiant heat.
At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride uses such a simple concept that kids of all ages can relate to, an elevator ride on a hot day, while introducing us to so many nuances of life. Introductions to politeness, new creatures, and languages from all over the world, to emotions and expressions, this fun read packs a lot within its colorful story.
Parents and kids will delight in Dallas’ plight as he works to get these patrons to the fourteenth floor before taking care of the rest of the Ragtag Hotel’s needs. Novak and Halionka make a fantastic pair as they bring this story to life. A perfect read for these hot summer nights as kids fade off dreaming of pools and elevator fun.
At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride by Freya Novak is a great addition to any family’s bookshelf. An ideal selection for kids of all ages, all abilities, and all backgrounds.