Family Forever

Heartwood Hotel #5

by Kallie George, Stephanie Graegin (illustrator)

Everything is humming at the Heartwood Hotel one year after the forest fire. Yet Mona the mouse feels like something is missing. Something besides the Golden Acorn—a legendary treasure buried and forgotten long ago. When a stranger turns up at the Heartwood with a map, suddenly the whole forest is taking part in a big treasure hunt and the hotel's regular activities are turned upside down.

But Mona has an idea to get things back to throw a surprise birthday party for Mr. Heartwood! As the Heartwood attracts treasure hunters—well-meaning and otherwise—and as Mona's best friend Tilly seems to be pulling away, Mona feels like her plans are slipping through her paws! Who will find the legendary treasure? And what if danger finds the hotel first?

The newest installment of the Heartwood Hotel chapter book series is another cozy adventure through an imaginative woodland, complete with comforting themes and a classic feel.

Genres: Middle Grade, Animals, Friendship, Childrens, Audiobook, Kids, Fiction

208 pages, Hardcover

Published September 2, 2025

About the author

I’m an author, editor, and speaker living in Vancouver, BC, near the sea. When I’m not writing or editing, I’m teaching creative writing workshops.

I have my Masters of Children's Literature from the University of British Columbia.

I love picture books, fairy tales, beautiful art and music, and baking cookies.

Reviews

[Whitney Newby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five golden (acorn) stars for this one! If this series could get any sweeter, I think it has. All of our kids (ages 6-12) LOVE the Heartwood Hotel books! Highly recommend!

[Blessing Bloodworth (naptimereaders) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read-aloud with 4 & 6 year-old girls.

We continue to enjoy this sweet series full of the most endearing woodland characters. I think the ideal reading age is 6-9, but there’s enough simplicity and gentle adventure to keep my younger ones engaged.

[Emily Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Kallie George! This one might be my favorite! There was a lot of mystery and surprise, and I love a good treasure hunt! Tilly and Mona continue to discover and share new things about friendship which I found sweet in this book whereas in some of the other books I found it a little annoying. I love how their conflicts always end in reconciliation and repentance!

[Keri · Rating 4 out of 5]

We LOVED this newest installment of the Heartwood Hotel series! Back to the cozy, comforting mysteries of life as a mouse maid in a tree hotel. The kids loved it as our bedtime read aloud, and so did my husband and I! Simple, endearing, and gentle storytelling.

The last two books had been a little darker (and grumpier) but this one feels back to all the warmth and light of the first two.

Mona does go through some self-pity, making false assumptions, and unfounded fear, but she eventually moves beyond it — and admits and learns from her mistakes.

And another book supposed to come out in Fall 2026?! We already can't wait!

[Kate Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awww, I loved this so much! The vibes and illustrations were adorable as always (a tiny moth with a broom?!), and I got chills from the ending. The message of embracing change was one I needed too.

I can't wait for the next book! 🧡

[Sylvia Kinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is a favorite. The kids and I were so sad it was over but looking forward to the new one coming out this fall.

[Ellen]

I had no idea that Kallie George was creating new entries in her Heartwood Hotel series, but what a treat that she is! More whimsical, quirky characters, more for Mona and Tillie and the rest of her found family to learn and do, more lovely cooking and parties. It's pure, sweet fun.

[Tiffany Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love these books so much! Can’t wait for book 6! 🍁

[Ashli Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cozy, comforting tale that sparkles with heart and woodland magic—Mona’s story continues to shine.

Family Forever is another heartfelt gem in the Heartwood Hotel series that delivers exactly what young readers love—cozy woodland charm, lovable characters, and just the right touch of adventure. Mona the mouse once again proves that courage and kindness can make even the tiniest creature a true hero.

The story’s blend of a treasure hunt, a mysterious map, and a surprise birthday party for Mr. Heartwood brings delightful twists while staying grounded in the themes of friendship, belonging, and doing the right thing. Young readers will connect with Mona’s emotions—her longing for things to feel “just right” again and her determination to bring her community together.

The warm black-and-white illustrations add classic charm, and the forest setting feels like a snug hug. It’s a perfect early chapter book for fans of Sophie Mouse, and ideal for bedtime reading or classroom libraries.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

We went right from book 1 to this one and it wasn't too confusing. Always thankful for a series that lets us skip around a little bit.

Another Heartwood Hotel gem. Fantastic and sweet story that is perfect read aloud. I always recommend this for kids who struggle with books with lots of conflict- the conflict in these is a little more mellow and manageable without being babyish. My 8yo LOVES the series and this one did not disappoint.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! Can't wait to see what Mona gets up to next.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review by my 8 year-old: I love Heartwood Hotel, and Family Forever is no exception. In this book, animals from the forest come together in a hunt for the golden acorn. I love this series for the anthropomorphism and how the animals always help each other. I would definitely recommend this book to readers of all ages!

Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for gifting me with an ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute continuation to the series. We pick up 1 year after the fire at the Heartwood and there are a bunch of people wanting to come look for a golden acorn. Mona and Tilly experience some emotional distance but then they figure it out and it was so sweet. I think this opened the way for more books, so we'll see!

[Kelsee Thaten · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Five stars. I liked it a lot. My favorite part was when Mona first stepped into the Maple Branch and Mr. Heartwood told her and Tilly that they could be maids. I hope the author writes more Heartwood books because they’re my favorite.” -Theo, age 5.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kids love the Heartwood Hotel series (so do I)! They're sweet and gentle, but don't "talk down" to them. We were all tickled to discover a new one had just been released, and they all loved it. However, they guessed where it was going pretty much immediately. I just didn't enjoy this one nearly as much as the original four.

[Awjtf]

Another sweet story in this series!

[Viola Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is this the end? The whole family is hoping it's not the end. We get adventures at the new branch, right? Right??

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. The characters are lovely and the setting is cozy!

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kids and I love the series but agree this is our least favorite out of the 5 books.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all LOVED this series. So sweet!

[Mel W · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are so cute. my daughter (kindergartener) and I just found this series and enjoy reading the books together!

[Alley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kids really enjoy this series. We read it out loud together and use different voices for all the characters. It is a cute story.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read with 10-year-old and we both loved it as much as we loved the first four books in this charming and heartwarming series. I hope for another story so we’ll get to see Mona Mouse in her new role!

[Nicole Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure where she would go with another book and love the direction she went with it! Looking forward to more books in this series!

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read aloud all the Heartwood Hotel books to my kids and this was one of our favorites!

[Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read aloud with my 4 year old! We both really enjoy this series.

[Noelani · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super sweet series for young kids.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE these books.

[Hannah Dietrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute continuation of the same characters we have fallen in love with throughout the series, although I would say that the captivating plot line of some of the other stories feels a bit dwindled. We werent, at any point, on edge seeking the resolution. The abrupt recognition and promotion of Mona and Tilly feels a bit awkward and we thought they wanted to wrap the series quickly.