A True Home

Heartwood Hotel #1

by Kallie George, Stephanie Graegin (Illustrator)

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.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Animals, Fantasy, Chapter Books, Friendship

163 pages, Paperback

First published July 3, 2017

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

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A darling little story! Charming. Cozy. Dare I say, cuddly? Yet, it has some bite. You see, the story follows mostly the small creatures of the forest and, as such, many either live in fear of the carnivores or have already had frightening encounters with them. The synopsis and the adorable illustrations made me think this might be a pretty tame story (and overall it certainly is!) but if you have sensitive children do be aware that a few of the main characters have lost family members in tragic circumstances (in the past, and off page) and and that the wolves are the "bad guys" here (again!? sigh. I mean, I do get that wolves are the foes of the little creatures of the forest, I just wish they weren't always the villains! I'll put examples below.)

But, overall, it's a very sweet story about friendship, bravery and belonging. Mona is courageous and kind, and a charming protagonist. I adore the idea of a hotel in the woods run by and for the little creatures of the forest. It's so cute! Beds filled with cattail fluff, acorn hats brimming with soup--if you love little whimsical miniature worlds and nature, you'll probably love the story. I think Kallie George has a way with words and manages to tell a story that feels full in a short amount of ink. I will continue with the series.

Some examples of the wolves:
"Mmmm. I like the hearts. They're tastiest" one wolf remarks, thinking of a future feast.

The wolf pack is described as follows:
"It was a whole pack of them. Some pacing, some lying down, licking their paws. Moonlight glanced off sharp teeth and eyes yellow like fire. She could see the one -- Gnarl -- who was wearing the moles' badge. It was hanging around his neck from a ribbon that was tattered and maybe a little bloody."

[Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Das war so zuckersüß! Es geht um Mona Maus, die ganz alleine unterwegs ist, nur mit einem kleinen Koffer, den sie von ihren Eltern hat. Sie findet Unterschlupf im gemütlichen Waldhotel und darf dort bleiben und als Zimmermädchen arbeiten. Sie findet Freunde und eine neue Heimat, doch das kleine Waldhotel wird bedroht. Bären und Wölfe kommen immer näher...
💕 Einfach nur bezaubernd! Die Geschichte ist so liebevoll und warmherzig erzählt und vermittelt gute Werte. Es ist der erste Band, was mich besonders freut, so dass ich bald weiterlesen kann!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to my 8 year old daughter and she enjoyed it. I thought it was pretty good too. The characters are really cute and the story is engaging. It seems to me to be more geared towards girls, but I think any child would enjoy it.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 5 out of 5]

My children all squeal 5 stars 🌟 and tell me I just have to get the next book. Thanks again to a last-minute add to Sonlight Curriculum Kindergarten read alouds, I think. We entered into the world of Heartwood Hotel. Personally, I love the little mystery and intrigue of our heroine mouse's parents. This is a beautiful little book with adorable furry illustrations, a big bad wolf, and so many lessons to learn and discuss. We bought this as an add-on and didn't have Sonlight material to cover it but I can imagine topics for discussion. The inclusion of all creatures furry, fuzzy, with feathers or six-legs. Then of course, the female heroine who is small of stature herself. I really did enjoy this book and even my Kinder could have read it alone but we all enjoyed it from 11 to babe. I own a paperback copy that Santa helped us acquire in 2020.

[Kate Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book just might be the cutest, coziest thing. 🧡 I know I would have been obsessed with it as a kid.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwood Hotel, Heartwood Hotel,
Where feathered and furred together can dwell.

George offers up a sweet tale about a little mouse who's searching for a home.
Luckily, she stumbled upon a wonderful hotel for animals.
Has she found a home at last?



This is the first volume in what appears will be a delightful series.

[Laura Robinson (naptimereaders) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book to my 4 year old son as a read aloud. It was absolutely precious. I loved the pictures in the pages for each chapter & loved the meaning of the story!

[Whitney Erwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with my 7-year-old daughter, and it was adorable! We loved this one. Animals living together in a hotel in the woods, what could be cuter? It is very clean, no nasty language or potty jokes and is appropriate for elementary school aged kids.

[FräuleinHallo · Rating 5 out of 5]

So ein schöner Flohmarktfund <3 Das Buch ist so lebendig mit tollen Tiercharakteren und einer wirklich schönen kleinen Geschichte! Ich freu mich schon auf die kommende Bände!

[Suranjana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this a long time ago but couldn't update on Goodreads. I loved this book. Anytime I am stressed my hands or rather eyes pick children's fiction. The life affirming qualities of a middle grade book always fill me with enthusiasm and hopefulness.
Mona the mouse actually resembled me more than I wanted to. I mean, I am 29... But a search for home, the search for a place, a community where you truly belong to, where you're valued and loved and appreciated is a personal quest and an universal longing. The book has a lot of quite adult issues inspite of being cute and simple. The happy ending boosted my own faith. I am reading all the next books in this series. I deeply value such uncomplicated joy that this book brought to me.

[Anna Landon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun cozy read. The story is simple enough that my 3 and 4 year old were able to completely comprehend it yet gripping enough they kept asking to read more. I think we read it in 3 or 4 sittings. The characters are lovable and interesting. The setting is magical. And there’s enough danger to keep you reading but not too scary for my nightmare prone girls.

[Just Commonly · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Sleep in safety, eat in earnest, and be happy at Heartwood." (15)

What a sweet and adorable story Heartwood Hotel: A True Home by Kallie George is!! The illustrations by Stephanie Graegin adds a bit to the story in a visual way for young readers. A story of courage and the true meaning of home, it will be a favorite for kids young and old.

I'm not typically big on stories with mice or insects, but Mona the Mouse is sweet, cute, and have a quiet strength that inspires readers to look beyond the physical, but see the person inside. Simple, yet profound topics such as jealousy and prejudice comes into play and is a great lesson for readers to pick up on, and possibly self-evaluate or even just to understand.

"We live by PROTECT and RESPECT, not by TOOTH and CLAW." (11)

I've been a fan of Kallie George's since the Magical Animal Adoption Agency and I think this new series, Heartwood Hotel will be another favorite.


This review first appeared on Just Commonly blog.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

After many other things I've read, it was a nice change of pace to read something designed more for primary grades that included kindness without hitting you over the head with it. I could imagine this making a great read aloud and giving students the option to make their own illustrations.

[Kelvino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute ol kids book from toys r us. Been needing breaks from info heavy books. Cute book overall :) I’ll probably forget it in like a day though but I had fun so whatever

[A Creative Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5⭐)

Cuteness overload avec ce premier tome de la saga Hôtel Heartwood 🥺 C'était tout ce que j'en attendais et plus encore !
Mignon, avec de jolis messages, des illustrations super cute et des animaux qu'on aimerait fréquenter chaque jour. J'adorerais visiter cet hôtel pas comme les autres 😍
C'était parfait comme petite lecture de transition entre automne et hiver, on commence en automne et on finit par la première chute de neige 👌🏻❄️

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ This was such a cute, sweet story. Loved all the woodland creatures and the setting. 🍂 I read this aloud to my boys, and they really enjoyed it. (I even did voices to get them more into it 😆) Excited to read book 2. Thanks for the rec, Kali!

[Bookbringer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very cute. I would have loved this as a child. Only reason for the 2☆-rating is because I'm not its target audience and just couldn't feel a "wow" as an adult. But it's a great children's story.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute and heartwarming book

[Kassie Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adorable little story!
I look forward to reading this to my children someday! 🥹

[Kelsee Thaten · Rating 5 out of 5]

“i give it SIX stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️” - theo, age 4.5

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

Read-aloud with 3yo & 5yo girls.
When you're reading a book to your kids and after each chapter closes they ask, "Read another one? Pleeeeeeease!", you know it's a good story.
My girls just fell in love with the warm and tender setting of the Heartwood Hotel that introduced to them vibrant and funny characters. From the rhyming Mr. Heartwood (badger), to the grumpy Tilly (red squirrel) to the surprisingly lovable (Bear). I love to find a children's novel features character depth and complexity like this one.
The story showcases the beauty of family and the joyful comfort of home, even if found in unusual ways.

[Lee Födi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I was privileged to be a part of the journey as this book—and this world—came to life in the imagination of author Kallie George. I was lucky enough to read various drafts of the plots and stories along the way.

When Kallie first told me about her idea, I instantly thought of one of my favorite childhood series, The Bedtime Story-Books by Thornton W. Burgess. As a child, I loved entering a world where animals were highly anthropomorphized, but still inhabited a world with all the natural dangers of the forest.

Kallie George’s new Heartwood Hotel series is much the same. She has teased whimsical personalities from the natural characteristics of her animals and constructed a world where there is delight—and danger—around every bend in the forest trail.

In particular, I really adore the Kallie's ability to turn a phrase, or to tease magic out of each sentence, giving the book a classical feel. This book makes a great read aloud!

[papilionna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nachdem ihr Haus in einem schrecklichen Sturm weggespült wurde, findet die kleine Maus Mona Zuflucht im Waldhotel - einem Ort, an dem alle friedlichen Tiere willkommen sind und beschützt werden. Dort wird sie als Zimmermädchen angestellt und findet Freunde in kleinen und großen Tieren. Aber nicht alle Waldbewohner sind friedlich und einige planen, das Waldhotel zu überfallen.

Ein ganz zauberhaftes, herzerwärmendes Buch mit wunderschönen Illustrationen, das sich hervorragend zum Vorlesen eignet.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is quite possibly the cutest and most heartwarming book I have ever read. And the illustrations are absolutely adorable. I ordered the paperbacks on Amazon and I can’t wait to get started on the next one.

[Kathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very cute book, and a great beginning to a series I look forward to reading.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

goldig, hererwärmend und putzig - wie erwartet.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

german review only
netgalley ebook

Was für ein wunderschönes Buch, dabei meine ich nicht nur das Cover. Obwohl was wirklich total schön ist. Aber die Story. Der Schreibstil. Das Setting. Die Illustrationen. Ich bin total begeistert.

Wir finden Mona gleich in einer schrecklichen Situation, auf der Flucht, weil ihr Haus dem Unwetter nicht standhalten kann. Auf dem Weg nach einem Unterschlupf wird es gefährlich für sie, bis sie das Waldhotel findet. Und anstatt dort abgewiesen zu werden, weil sie kein Geld hat, wird sie eingestellt und bekommt dadurch ein Zimmer. (Wenn die Menschheit nur genauso mitfühlend wäre, huh?)

Die Charaktere die wir in und um das Hotel kennenlernen dürfen sind alle so unterschiedlich, und alle so liebenswert, auch wenn der ein oder andere eine härtere Nuss zum Knacken ist. Ich mag total die kleine Familie die Mona für sich gefunden hat, und auch ein paar Hinweise zu ihren Eltern.

Es war stellenweise wirklich spannend, gerade zum Ende hin, als der große Konflikt des Buches geklärt wurde.

Ich bin absolut gespannt wie es weitergeht und freu mich schon total die nächsten Bücher zu lesen.
Eindeutig nicht nur was für Kinder, sondern hat selbst mir in meinem "hohen" Alter gefallen.

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

One rainy night in early autumn, Mona the mouse discovers why her current home was abandoned by its previous inhabitants. Seeking more accommodating accommodations, she sets off along the river, but she finds herself swept away with nothing but her faithful suitcase until she washes up at a huge tree with a familiar symbol on the door. It turns out, she's at the Heartwood Hotel, and although she's too little to really accomplish much, she does her best to help out until she can find somewhere to belong.

This is a cozy little book about cute woodland creatures and the power of not making assumptions. It's beautifully told and has a lot of gentle and thoughtful moments.

[Fi's Journey · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Nothing's wrong that ends in song."

The Heartwood Hotel is a series by Kallie George who I've read her other series called The Magical Animal Adoption Agency, which I quite enjoyed.

This one though wasn't as cute and magical to me as her other series. It has a cute main character but there was a character in there that was just horrible and I thought that she wasn't explained that well. I know this is a children's book targeted for a very young age but still that Squirrel girl Tilly was horrible in character and the way she was written. She plagued the whole story for me and it didn't make sense.

[Janina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted something sweet and this little book delivered sweet. I really liked it. Reminded me a bit of the nice atmosphere I liked back when I re-read The Tale of Despereaux. Would definitely read the second book. This could definitely be a cute animated movie, too, like The Wild Robot. :)