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The Incredible Hotel #1
The Incredible Hotel
If you ever go to the great city of Delaunay, take a left at the Duchess’s palace and cross the Bridge of Spires, and here you will find The Incredible Hotel. Everything runs like clockwork, thanks to Stefan the kitchen porter, who brews the coffee every morning, and dreams of being a chef. Until the morning of the Grand Ball, when a fire starts in the kitchen just as the Duchess of Delaunay arrives... can Stefan save the day?
40 pages, Hardcover
Published January 7, 2020
About the author
Kate Davies
154 books11 followersLibrarian note: There are other authors with the same name. This is Kate^^Davies
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
September 23, 2023
5★
“You couldn’t ask for a more wonderful place to stay. Everything runs like clockwork.”
From go to whoa, the team that runs the Incredible Hotel in Delaunay works like clockwork because each person knows when to do what, starting with young Stefan.
“Every morning at 5am, Stefan the kitchen porter brews the coffee …
which wakes the chef …who makes the breakfast …
to give to the butler...to take to the Hotel Manager.”
Then the day ends with Stefan, dreaming as he works.
“And every night at 11pm, as the Hotel Manager takes his bath …
and the chef eats her dinner, perfectly seasoned as usual …
Stefan does the washing up, and dreams of making cakes.”
But kitchen porters don’t make cakes. They carry and clean.
“and say ‘YES CHEF!’ even when they want to say ‘No’!”
Then early one day, Mr Starch, the manager, announces that they are going to hold a grand ball to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the hotel. To top it off, the Duchess of Delaunay will be coming, and she is known for being so picky that she shuts down hotels!
What to do? Mr Starch says the Duchess loves profiteroles, so he asks the chef to create a big profiterole tower – “the tallest, creamiest, most profiteroley tower in history.”
Everybody gets to work, baking, cleaning, and preparing the hotel. The chef keeps building her profiterole tower but it wasn’t sticking together. Stefan has been making coffee to keep her awake and is allowed to whip the cream, but when he suggests using caramel to hold her tower in place, she scolds him, says his coffee isn’t good and tells him to get out of her kitchen “and DON’T COME BACK!”
She laughs “a horrible laugh” when he says he wants to be a chef.
As he walks away sadly, we see everyone in the hotel polishing and preparing for the ball. Stefan goes home, makes some good coffee and a wonderful profiterole tower!
“But he didn’t have the heart to eat it.”
The next day,
“On the morning of the ball, without Stefan, things did not run like clockwork at The Incredible Hotel. No one brewed the coffee to wake the chef …
so she didn’t make the breakfast …”
and so on and so on. If you can see the middle picture, you will notice the bread burning in the oven – oops! The fire department comes running as the chef cries out!
“MY KITCHEN!... My recipe book! My profiterole tower! Help, Stefan! There isn’t a moment to lose!”
No Stefan. The Duchess and guests are arriving already, so the manager suggests a tour of the grounds! But the Duchess says she has been promised dancing and a profiterole tower.
“Before Mr Starch could stop her… she marched into the grand ballroom.”
The Duchess is drenched, getting angrier and angrier, threatening to broadcast far and wide that the hotel is not incredible, it is TERRIBLE.
“She stormed to the door with her nose in the air – But then she stopped and sniffed. She could smell something creamy, something chocolatey, something truly incredible…”
“THE PROFITEROLE TOWER.
‘You’re back!’ cried Mr. Starch. ‘I saw the fire, and I wanted to help,’ said Stefan.”
The Duchess takes a bite and pronounces it sublime! When she congratulates the chef, Mr Starch introduces Stefan, the kitchen porter. The chef shouts “NO! He’s not our kitchen porter anymore… he’s our PASTRY CHEF! That is, if he would like to be…”
As if there would be any doubt! Yes, Stefan would, and he helps everyone create a wonderful back-to-front feast after which the chef presents him with a chef’s hat.
“He felt as tall as the profiterole tower.”
These days you will find Stefan, in the kitchen, baking up a storm, including his famous profiteroles, and he’s still brewing the coffee every morning. We see him and the chef clinking coffee cups at a table with some of his goodies.
This has to be one of my favourite children’s books. It has 32 full-size pages of delightful detail and humour, beautifully illustrated. The characters all have expressive faces, and there are background scenes and little animals tucked here and there. The use of detail and humour reminds me of how much my family enjoyed the Richard Scarry books, with amusing hidden gems to find.
As an example, on the page where the Duchess is arriving for the celebrations, we can see part of something through a window behind her. It turns out to be Stefan, carrying his enormous profiterole into the hotel. All we see is his leg, a hand, and a lot of colourful objects. I expect there is more to find if I look.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the preview copy of #TheIncredibleHotel.
“You couldn’t ask for a more wonderful place to stay. Everything runs like clockwork.”
From go to whoa, the team that runs the Incredible Hotel in Delaunay works like clockwork because each person knows when to do what, starting with young Stefan.
“Every morning at 5am, Stefan the kitchen porter brews the coffee …
which wakes the chef …who makes the breakfast …
to give to the butler...to take to the Hotel Manager.”
Then the day ends with Stefan, dreaming as he works.
“And every night at 11pm, as the Hotel Manager takes his bath …
and the chef eats her dinner, perfectly seasoned as usual …
Stefan does the washing up, and dreams of making cakes.”
But kitchen porters don’t make cakes. They carry and clean.
“and say ‘YES CHEF!’ even when they want to say ‘No’!”
Then early one day, Mr Starch, the manager, announces that they are going to hold a grand ball to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the hotel. To top it off, the Duchess of Delaunay will be coming, and she is known for being so picky that she shuts down hotels!
What to do? Mr Starch says the Duchess loves profiteroles, so he asks the chef to create a big profiterole tower – “the tallest, creamiest, most profiteroley tower in history.”
Everybody gets to work, baking, cleaning, and preparing the hotel. The chef keeps building her profiterole tower but it wasn’t sticking together. Stefan has been making coffee to keep her awake and is allowed to whip the cream, but when he suggests using caramel to hold her tower in place, she scolds him, says his coffee isn’t good and tells him to get out of her kitchen “and DON’T COME BACK!”
She laughs “a horrible laugh” when he says he wants to be a chef.
As he walks away sadly, we see everyone in the hotel polishing and preparing for the ball. Stefan goes home, makes some good coffee and a wonderful profiterole tower!
“But he didn’t have the heart to eat it.”
The next day,
“On the morning of the ball, without Stefan, things did not run like clockwork at The Incredible Hotel. No one brewed the coffee to wake the chef …
so she didn’t make the breakfast …”
and so on and so on. If you can see the middle picture, you will notice the bread burning in the oven – oops! The fire department comes running as the chef cries out!
“MY KITCHEN!... My recipe book! My profiterole tower! Help, Stefan! There isn’t a moment to lose!”
No Stefan. The Duchess and guests are arriving already, so the manager suggests a tour of the grounds! But the Duchess says she has been promised dancing and a profiterole tower.
“Before Mr Starch could stop her… she marched into the grand ballroom.”
The Duchess is drenched, getting angrier and angrier, threatening to broadcast far and wide that the hotel is not incredible, it is TERRIBLE.
“She stormed to the door with her nose in the air – But then she stopped and sniffed. She could smell something creamy, something chocolatey, something truly incredible…”
“THE PROFITEROLE TOWER.
‘You’re back!’ cried Mr. Starch. ‘I saw the fire, and I wanted to help,’ said Stefan.”
The Duchess takes a bite and pronounces it sublime! When she congratulates the chef, Mr Starch introduces Stefan, the kitchen porter. The chef shouts “NO! He’s not our kitchen porter anymore… he’s our PASTRY CHEF! That is, if he would like to be…”
As if there would be any doubt! Yes, Stefan would, and he helps everyone create a wonderful back-to-front feast after which the chef presents him with a chef’s hat.
“He felt as tall as the profiterole tower.”
These days you will find Stefan, in the kitchen, baking up a storm, including his famous profiteroles, and he’s still brewing the coffee every morning. We see him and the chef clinking coffee cups at a table with some of his goodies.
This has to be one of my favourite children’s books. It has 32 full-size pages of delightful detail and humour, beautifully illustrated. The characters all have expressive faces, and there are background scenes and little animals tucked here and there. The use of detail and humour reminds me of how much my family enjoyed the Richard Scarry books, with amusing hidden gems to find.
As an example, on the page where the Duchess is arriving for the celebrations, we can see part of something through a window behind her. It turns out to be Stefan, carrying his enormous profiterole into the hotel. All we see is his leg, a hand, and a lot of colourful objects. I expect there is more to find if I look.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the preview copy of #TheIncredibleHotel.
April 5, 2021
Stefan is a kitchen porter at The Incredible Hotel. His dream is to be a chef but the chef at the hotel just scoffs at his dream and tells him to get out of her kitchen. When a fire starts and the profiterole tower that the chef had prepared for the duchess is ruined, Stefan saves the day with his incredible and delicious profiterole tower and the chef welcomes Stefan and declares him to be the pastry chef.
A nice book about dreaming big and working towards your dreams and believing in them. I think the story lacked something, I think it could have been better but the illustrations are great and remind me of the Disney movie Ratatouille.
3 stars
A nice book about dreaming big and working towards your dreams and believing in them. I think the story lacked something, I think it could have been better but the illustrations are great and remind me of the Disney movie Ratatouille.
3 stars
June 30, 2020
Book reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
At the Incredible Hotel, everything runs like clockwork. All the staff knows their roles which keeps the magnificent hotel working perfectly. On the anniversary of the hotel’s one-hundredth birthday, the hotel manager decides to throw a lavish party.
He invites the Duchess of Delaunay, a very picky woman who is known for having hotels closed down that don’t meet her requirements. She wants dancing and a huge profiterole tower. Stefan the Kitchen Porter loves to cook and tries to offer his help to the chef, but she puts him down, so he heads home to make his own profiterole tower.
The next morning, the day of the party, the place doesn’t work like clockwork and a fire even breaks out. What will the Duchess have to say and who can save the hotel from being closed down by her?
The Incredible Hotel is a fabulous children’s book featuring a very grand hotel that looks amazing. The plot focuses on the Kitchen Porter Stefan who loves his job but he wants more from life, he wants to be a chef but seen as he is just a Kitchen Porter he is laughed at.
The book is not only about this magnificent hotel and its staff but about believing in your dreams and not letting anyone laugh at you and tell you that you can’t do something that you truly want to.
The illustrations throughout are superb. You have to look closely to see all the intricate detail and wait until you see the profiterole tower, it is mouthwatering, and I don’t even like profiteroles!!
The book is so beautiful and really is an adorable read.
At the Incredible Hotel, everything runs like clockwork. All the staff knows their roles which keeps the magnificent hotel working perfectly. On the anniversary of the hotel’s one-hundredth birthday, the hotel manager decides to throw a lavish party.
He invites the Duchess of Delaunay, a very picky woman who is known for having hotels closed down that don’t meet her requirements. She wants dancing and a huge profiterole tower. Stefan the Kitchen Porter loves to cook and tries to offer his help to the chef, but she puts him down, so he heads home to make his own profiterole tower.
The next morning, the day of the party, the place doesn’t work like clockwork and a fire even breaks out. What will the Duchess have to say and who can save the hotel from being closed down by her?
The Incredible Hotel is a fabulous children’s book featuring a very grand hotel that looks amazing. The plot focuses on the Kitchen Porter Stefan who loves his job but he wants more from life, he wants to be a chef but seen as he is just a Kitchen Porter he is laughed at.
The book is not only about this magnificent hotel and its staff but about believing in your dreams and not letting anyone laugh at you and tell you that you can’t do something that you truly want to.
The illustrations throughout are superb. You have to look closely to see all the intricate detail and wait until you see the profiterole tower, it is mouthwatering, and I don’t even like profiteroles!!
The book is so beautiful and really is an adorable read.
August 4, 2023
Stefan, a kitchen porter, dreams of making cakes in the Incredible Hotel's kitchens, but isn't allowed to do anything but make coffee and move things. Then, the Duchess of Delaunay decides to attend a ball at the hotel, sending all the staff into a tizzy of preparation.
This is a story about dreaming and achieving one's dreams. I love the quirkiness of the story and its beautiful illustrations as we see how indispensable Stefan actually is. And how his creativity and dedication saves the day.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Quarto Publishing Group -Frances Lincoln Children's Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
This is a story about dreaming and achieving one's dreams. I love the quirkiness of the story and its beautiful illustrations as we see how indispensable Stefan actually is. And how his creativity and dedication saves the day.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Quarto Publishing Group -Frances Lincoln Children's Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
September 14, 2023
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
The Incredible Hotel is a fun and inspirational children's picture book with a great message to both young and old. Stefan works at the Incredible Hotel as a kitchen porter and dreams of one day becoming a chef. On the day of a Duchess’s visit, a fire ruins the preparations for the Grand Ball. Stefan saves the day by baking an amazing tower of profiteroles despite everyone's doubts of his skills and capabilities only being a porter.
I loved how inspiring and encouraging this story was. It shows that with hard work, determination, confidence, ambition and belief in yourself you can achieve all you want and more.
The Incredible Hotel is a fun and inspirational children's picture book with a great message to both young and old. Stefan works at the Incredible Hotel as a kitchen porter and dreams of one day becoming a chef. On the day of a Duchess’s visit, a fire ruins the preparations for the Grand Ball. Stefan saves the day by baking an amazing tower of profiteroles despite everyone's doubts of his skills and capabilities only being a porter.
I loved how inspiring and encouraging this story was. It shows that with hard work, determination, confidence, ambition and belief in yourself you can achieve all you want and more.
July 10, 2023
5 ⭐️
A very cute story and the illustrations are marvelous. This story does a wonderful job of portraying that everyone, no matter their position, is important and that hard work can lead to great opportunities.
I also appreciate that there was a redemption arc for a character that acted out under extreme stress and that they were later able to make amends for their actions. In children's books, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of thought for redemption for secondary characters. This book not only allowed for the character’s redemption arc, but tied the redemption into an accomplishment for the main character.
Would recommend.
A very cute story and the illustrations are marvelous. This story does a wonderful job of portraying that everyone, no matter their position, is important and that hard work can lead to great opportunities.
I also appreciate that there was a redemption arc for a character that acted out under extreme stress and that they were later able to make amends for their actions. In children's books, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of thought for redemption for secondary characters. This book not only allowed for the character’s redemption arc, but tied the redemption into an accomplishment for the main character.
Would recommend.
June 9, 2023
My review will be live on my blog - donnasbookblog on 5th September 2023 - publication day!
I thought that this book was brilliant!
Such a good story, it was well written, easy to follow and lots of fun too – exactly what I look for in a book to read with my daughter – and she enjoyed it immensely
I loved the underlying theme to the story as well that the lower level staff can really be the key to keeping the operations running as is shown in this one – and boy does everything go wrong when Stefan the Kitchen Porter leaves!
The illustrations in the book are lovely and really suit the book and helped to bring it to life.
It is 5 stars from me for this one, a great story – very highly recommended!!
I thought that this book was brilliant!
Such a good story, it was well written, easy to follow and lots of fun too – exactly what I look for in a book to read with my daughter – and she enjoyed it immensely
I loved the underlying theme to the story as well that the lower level staff can really be the key to keeping the operations running as is shown in this one – and boy does everything go wrong when Stefan the Kitchen Porter leaves!
The illustrations in the book are lovely and really suit the book and helped to bring it to life.
It is 5 stars from me for this one, a great story – very highly recommended!!
July 12, 2024
Well, this was just delightful! I didn't know what to expect, but I don't think it was the absolutely charming book!
A fun story about a beautiful hotel, all who visit and all who work there and the importance of believing in someone. Filled with some of the best illustrations I have seen in some time [there is A LOT going on in these illustrations and finding all the extras will add to the story...is that a cat and mouse??]!
Little and adults alike will love this book and I can see them revisiting it over and over again.
Very well done!
A fun story about a beautiful hotel, all who visit and all who work there and the importance of believing in someone. Filled with some of the best illustrations I have seen in some time [there is A LOT going on in these illustrations and finding all the extras will add to the story...is that a cat and mouse??]!
Little and adults alike will love this book and I can see them revisiting it over and over again.
Very well done!
September 27, 2020
¡Por álbumes como este es por el que considero que valen tanto la pena!
Kate Davies e Isabelle Follath han creado una historia repleta de detalles que invita a los niños a luchar por sus sueños y a no rendirse por mucho que crean que todo está perdido. No podía dejar de ir adelante y atrás encontrando nuevos detallitos escondidos entre las páginas.
¡Aviso! Leerlo da unas ganas irrefrenables de ponerse a cocinar pasteles.
Kate Davies e Isabelle Follath han creado una historia repleta de detalles que invita a los niños a luchar por sus sueños y a no rendirse por mucho que crean que todo está perdido. No podía dejar de ir adelante y atrás encontrando nuevos detallitos escondidos entre las páginas.
¡Aviso! Leerlo da unas ganas irrefrenables de ponerse a cocinar pasteles.
March 30, 2026
Read it with my daughter. We actually liked the second one better (we didn't know there were two books because we got the second one as a gift- thinking it was a standalone), but this was also a enjoyable read 😊
October 10, 2020
A nice story about a kitchen porter who is not respected because of his role until the end when he saves the day with his amazing cooking skills. A nice story to show children that everyone is important and you shouldn’t judge them by their job or anything else. A good read aloud story for FS and KS1 children. Good discussions about inclusion and respect.
October 2, 2024
I do love a hotel story that has a kitchen porter that makes coffee every morning and wants to be a chef. Also profiteroles. They really are delicious.
September 2, 2023
The incredible hotel runs perfectly, as long as the first step is done properly. When Stefan, the kitchn porter makes the coffee, it causes the next thing to happen and so on. He wants to be a chef and he works on his own to perfect his cooking stills. When the chef fires him, things don't go the way the should. It just so happens that the Duchess of Delaunay arrives to make sure everything is ready for the Grand Ball. Because Stefan didn't make the coffee, the chef didn't wake up and so on. There is a fire in the kitchen and nothing is ready for the ball. Can Stefan save the day?
My older grandson enjoyed this one a lot and recognized immediately that without Stefan the Incredible Hotel wasn't so incredible. Of course the message of everyone being important no matter how large your role seems to be was well presented, but the younger two didn't really get it. I also liked the message of not giving up on your dreams as Stefan eventually becomes a chef. We enjoyed reading about the chaos and how it was sorted out and that the ball was able to carry on. An interesting story, but I'm not sure about the age range. The illustrations were great and we spent time looking at them and talking about what we saw almost as much as reading the story.
My older grandson enjoyed this one a lot and recognized immediately that without Stefan the Incredible Hotel wasn't so incredible. Of course the message of everyone being important no matter how large your role seems to be was well presented, but the younger two didn't really get it. I also liked the message of not giving up on your dreams as Stefan eventually becomes a chef. We enjoyed reading about the chaos and how it was sorted out and that the ball was able to carry on. An interesting story, but I'm not sure about the age range. The illustrations were great and we spent time looking at them and talking about what we saw almost as much as reading the story.
August 27, 2023
Stefan may only be a kitchen porter at The Incredible Hotel, but he's the first step in a system that keeps the whole place running every day. Without him there, things go terribly wrong. And with a fire overtaking the hotel just as the Duchess is set to arrive, losing Stefan could prove to be a disaster. But his creativity and determination win the day when he shows up just in time with a showstopping cake that convinces the Duchess The Incredible Hotel is still pretty incredible.
I adored the illustrations of food in this sweet picture book about following your dreams, and how no job is unimportant and no one should be looked down upon.
I adored the illustrations of food in this sweet picture book about following your dreams, and how no job is unimportant and no one should be looked down upon.
August 25, 2020
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
This book just looked so delightful, plus I love reading about grand hotels with fabulous interior. And it was such a fun book!
Meet Stefan, he is the kitchen porter aka the one who can dream about cakes and pies… but actually just have to fetch/carry, clean clean and more clean. I felt for poor Stefan but I was happy that he didn’t let his situation interfere with his dreams. He has quite big dreams in which he makes all the cakes and wins the prices. I was definitely rooting for this little boy to make his dreams come true.
One day the Hotel gets a letter that the infamous Duchess will be visiting for the grand ball (the hotel is 100 years old, hip hip hooray). I say infamous because as we can read the duchess is now for being picky… and shutting down hotels she doesn’t like. Yep. Nobody in the Grand Hotel wants that of course and so we see a big flurry of activity as the people at the hotel try to do everything they can to make the party a success, and then especially pleasing the duchess. Poor Stefan wants to help and I disliked how they all just send him away instead of asking him for his help. I get that he is a kitchen porter, but you could at least treat him much nicer.
I did think it is hilarious that none of these people ever heard of an alarmclock. They all rely on the others. 😛
The duchess was indeed eh, I wasn’t a fan of her. Though, sure, I would also be highly pissed off if someone did that to me. So on that note I could understand, the rest not so much.
I loved the ending and what a fantastic one it was. Man, I was hungry looking at that giant thing that took 2 pages! Glitters, sparkles, umbrellas, chocolate, and more. I was so happy for Stefan, and he deserves it all. I am keeping this delightfully vague. You will just have to read the book to see what Stefan did and what happens next.
I really loved the art in this one, it was so much fun and the details were amazing!
All in all, I had fun reading this one and I would recommend it.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
This book just looked so delightful, plus I love reading about grand hotels with fabulous interior. And it was such a fun book!
Meet Stefan, he is the kitchen porter aka the one who can dream about cakes and pies… but actually just have to fetch/carry, clean clean and more clean. I felt for poor Stefan but I was happy that he didn’t let his situation interfere with his dreams. He has quite big dreams in which he makes all the cakes and wins the prices. I was definitely rooting for this little boy to make his dreams come true.
One day the Hotel gets a letter that the infamous Duchess will be visiting for the grand ball (the hotel is 100 years old, hip hip hooray). I say infamous because as we can read the duchess is now for being picky… and shutting down hotels she doesn’t like. Yep. Nobody in the Grand Hotel wants that of course and so we see a big flurry of activity as the people at the hotel try to do everything they can to make the party a success, and then especially pleasing the duchess. Poor Stefan wants to help and I disliked how they all just send him away instead of asking him for his help. I get that he is a kitchen porter, but you could at least treat him much nicer.
I did think it is hilarious that none of these people ever heard of an alarmclock. They all rely on the others. 😛
The duchess was indeed eh, I wasn’t a fan of her. Though, sure, I would also be highly pissed off if someone did that to me. So on that note I could understand, the rest not so much.
I loved the ending and what a fantastic one it was. Man, I was hungry looking at that giant thing that took 2 pages! Glitters, sparkles, umbrellas, chocolate, and more. I was so happy for Stefan, and he deserves it all. I am keeping this delightfully vague. You will just have to read the book to see what Stefan did and what happens next.
I really loved the art in this one, it was so much fun and the details were amazing!
All in all, I had fun reading this one and I would recommend it.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Read
June 21, 2023Stefan, a diligent kitchen porter, performs heavy kitchen duties at The Incredible Hotel. His dream, however, is to become a chef. Stefan steps in when a fire disrupts the preparations for the Grand Ball on the day of the Duchess of Delaunay's arrival. Despite the staff's doubts about his abilities, he saves the day by baking a mouthwatering profiterole tower for the Duchess.
The Incredible Hotel celebrates perseverance, ambition, and the importance of every role, no matter how small. It discusses how hard work can help us overcome assumptions and judgments and prompts us to persist in our dreams, no matter the hurdles we face.
I received an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
The Incredible Hotel celebrates perseverance, ambition, and the importance of every role, no matter how small. It discusses how hard work can help us overcome assumptions and judgments and prompts us to persist in our dreams, no matter the hurdles we face.
I received an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
June 11, 2023
Stefan works as the kitchen porter for the INCREDIBLE HOTEL. He brews the coffee in the morning, does the dishes and all the heavy lifting in the kitchen. But what he Really wants to do is bake.
I loved this book, the illustrations are gorgeous. I love a good fantastical story, set in pretty kingdoms.
This is a fun tale, of a boy following his dreams and saving the day.
I loved this book, the illustrations are gorgeous. I love a good fantastical story, set in pretty kingdoms.
This is a fun tale, of a boy following his dreams and saving the day.
July 6, 2023
This was so heartwarming! It inspired you to pursue your dreams with determination. The art style is also very gorgeous. I'll definitely read it again later.
Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the arc.
Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the arc.
July 31, 2025
The Incredible Hotel wows its guests with how it runs so well. They are preparing for their 100th birthday celebration and the intimidating Duchess of Delaunay being their guest of honor. Stefan the kitchen porter dreams of doing more than brewing the coffee and cleaning up, he would love to make the profiterole tower for the celebration but the cook shoos him out of the kitchen. This puts Stefan in a bit of a funk, which means he misses his alarm clock, and then he doesn’t wake up to make the coffee. Will the hotel survive the disastrous cascade of events following?
Stefan is a young man with big dreams and hidden talents, and an emergency gives him a chance to shine. (And also shows how even the smallest jobs can be super important.) The illustrations make the time and events in this story really come to life. They make it feel like it is happening in early 1900s England, convey the busy hotel cog works, and add a touch of humor. The book would not shine as much without them. It’s a story that’s been done a million times, of a lowly servant rising to greater things and shining in a moment of need, but it is still as heartwarming as ever.
Stefan is a young man with big dreams and hidden talents, and an emergency gives him a chance to shine. (And also shows how even the smallest jobs can be super important.) The illustrations make the time and events in this story really come to life. They make it feel like it is happening in early 1900s England, convey the busy hotel cog works, and add a touch of humor. The book would not shine as much without them. It’s a story that’s been done a million times, of a lowly servant rising to greater things and shining in a moment of need, but it is still as heartwarming as ever.
July 9, 2023
I received an electronic ARC from Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books through NetGalley.
Davies reminds readers to believe in themselves even when others don't. Stefan is the kitchen porter at this hotel and works long hours. He wants to be a chef but the hotel chef belittles him and tells him he will never be anything but a porter. No one realizes how important he is until he leaves. The day of a major visit from the duchess does not begin smoothly as no one made the coffee to wake the chef to cook the breakfast to give to the butler to wake the manager... The disaster is compounded with a fire and a duchess determined to shut them down. However, Stefan hears of the problem and returns with the stupendous profiterole tower he worked through the night to make. Everyone realizes how important he is to their hotel "family" and he becomes the pastry chef. A lovely message to seek your dreams and keep trying.
The illustrations are delightful and full of details to support the story. be sure to take time to look closely at them.
Davies reminds readers to believe in themselves even when others don't. Stefan is the kitchen porter at this hotel and works long hours. He wants to be a chef but the hotel chef belittles him and tells him he will never be anything but a porter. No one realizes how important he is until he leaves. The day of a major visit from the duchess does not begin smoothly as no one made the coffee to wake the chef to cook the breakfast to give to the butler to wake the manager... The disaster is compounded with a fire and a duchess determined to shut them down. However, Stefan hears of the problem and returns with the stupendous profiterole tower he worked through the night to make. Everyone realizes how important he is to their hotel "family" and he becomes the pastry chef. A lovely message to seek your dreams and keep trying.
The illustrations are delightful and full of details to support the story. be sure to take time to look closely at them.
June 4, 2023
The story focuses on Stefan, the Kitchen Porter who dreams of being a chef. Although he loves his job, he wants more but is laughed at and told he can't achieve his dreams.
The book is about believing in yourself, following your dreams and not letting others discourage you or laugh at your ambitions, highlights include:
lavish illustrations
magical setting
themes of believing in your dreams
payoff of hard work and determination
The book is about believing in yourself, following your dreams and not letting others discourage you or laugh at your ambitions, highlights include:
lavish illustrations
magical setting
themes of believing in your dreams
payoff of hard work and determination
June 16, 2023
Stefan is a kitchen porter at a hotel but he dreams of being a chef. The chef at the Incredible Hotel is far from nice to Stefan and he gets laughed at. Everyone at this hotel has a role and knows their job. By everyone knowing what to do is what helps the hotel run like a well oiled machine. Stefan didn't give up on his dream even though he was being laughed at.
The book is about believing in your dreams and not letting anyone laugh at you and tell you that you can’t do something that you truly want to. The illustrations are great throughout the book. This is a really cute book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Davies and Quartro Publishing Group. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
#netgalley, #theincrediblehotel, #katedavies, #quartropublishinggroup, #don'tgiveup
Review left on barnesandnoble.com
The book is about believing in your dreams and not letting anyone laugh at you and tell you that you can’t do something that you truly want to. The illustrations are great throughout the book. This is a really cute book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Davies and Quartro Publishing Group. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
#netgalley, #theincrediblehotel, #katedavies, #quartropublishinggroup, #don'tgiveup
Review left on barnesandnoble.com
December 30, 2025
Is this over already?! I kept turning the pages but I reached the end and now, I am sad.
This was such an incredible little story with stunning illustrations! We hear the story of Stefan, a little boy at the Incredible Hotel who's only wish is to become a pastry chef. When a duchess comes visiting the hotel, Stefan has a chance to make the best profiterole tower in imagination to amaze the duchess and save the day. I adored this story to bits, it was so unique and cute! I had massive Grand Budapest Hotel vibes, but it was unique enough to not feel like straight out of a Wes Anderson film. I loved the art style and the way the story was built up. Once it comes out in September this year, I highly recommend you all to pick it up for yourselves!
Thanks to Netgalley/the publisher for granting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was such an incredible little story with stunning illustrations! We hear the story of Stefan, a little boy at the Incredible Hotel who's only wish is to become a pastry chef. When a duchess comes visiting the hotel, Stefan has a chance to make the best profiterole tower in imagination to amaze the duchess and save the day. I adored this story to bits, it was so unique and cute! I had massive Grand Budapest Hotel vibes, but it was unique enough to not feel like straight out of a Wes Anderson film. I loved the art style and the way the story was built up. Once it comes out in September this year, I highly recommend you all to pick it up for yourselves!
Thanks to Netgalley/the publisher for granting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2020
This is the Incredible Hotel, and it's turning 100 this year, so there will be a huge ball which needs to be prepared.
We have a small person aspiring to big things. As he tells the chef his dreams, he gets laughed at, and tries to prove himself that he really can do it - and winds up saving the day.
The illustrations are very colourful and detailed, and instead of taking away the stress everyone must feel I focused more on the things the picture told me, like the animal footprints, and the different people working there.
This feels like one episode while it could easily be a whole series of happenstances. I'd like to read more.
I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
We have a small person aspiring to big things. As he tells the chef his dreams, he gets laughed at, and tries to prove himself that he really can do it - and winds up saving the day.
The illustrations are very colourful and detailed, and instead of taking away the stress everyone must feel I focused more on the things the picture told me, like the animal footprints, and the different people working there.
This feels like one episode while it could easily be a whole series of happenstances. I'd like to read more.
I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
June 10, 2023
A book to be read and poured over again and again together by adult and child. A story of having self belief. I loved the artwork in this book. So simple on first glance, but so much to look at on each page. Loss of one star because some of the story setting might need to be explained to a young child. Based on these things I’m sure everyone can enjoy this book, but at the same time I’m not entirely sure of the .actual intended reader age. Thank you to Quarto Publishing group - Frances Lincoln Children’s books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
June 13, 2023
4.5/5 stars
The Incredible Hotel by Kate Davies was an absolute pleasure to read! It is a charming picture book that follows aspiring chef, Stefan, as he attempts to prove his worth in the kitchen. The story was easy to read and the illustrations were stunning and vibrant. Each picture has so much detail to point out and discuss with children, and it would make for an awesome bedtime story for any kid!
Thank you to Quarto Publishing group - Frances Lincoln Children’s books and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
The Incredible Hotel by Kate Davies was an absolute pleasure to read! It is a charming picture book that follows aspiring chef, Stefan, as he attempts to prove his worth in the kitchen. The story was easy to read and the illustrations were stunning and vibrant. Each picture has so much detail to point out and discuss with children, and it would make for an awesome bedtime story for any kid!
Thank you to Quarto Publishing group - Frances Lincoln Children’s books and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
June 16, 2023
A wonderful tale about how you should never underestimate the seemingly less experienced people on your team. In a fancy hotel, the young kitchen porter, Stefan, dreams of being a chef, however his requests to get experience in the kitchen fall on the deaf ears of the somewhat rude head chef.
On the day that the local Duchess is due to arrive for a Grand Ball and feast, there is a disastrous fire in the kitchen, ruining the feast and jeopardising the very future of the hotel. Time for a hero to save the day!
This beautifully illustrated tale with a valuable message is an excellent addition to any child's library.
On the day that the local Duchess is due to arrive for a Grand Ball and feast, there is a disastrous fire in the kitchen, ruining the feast and jeopardising the very future of the hotel. Time for a hero to save the day!
This beautifully illustrated tale with a valuable message is an excellent addition to any child's library.
July 3, 2023
"The Incredible Hotel" is a captivating story set in the enchanting city of Delaunay. It follows Stefan, a kitchen porter with dreams of becoming a chef. When a fire breaks out during the Grand Ball, Stefan must save the day. The book's vivid descriptions bring Delaunay to life, and Stefan's determination and quick thinking make him a likable protagonist. While some secondary characters could have been further developed, the story's pacing and positive message about following one's dreams make it an enjoyable read for all ages.
July 26, 2020
I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.
This book was so cute! I am not the target market with this book, but I loved as an adult, too.
The story was cute and a little bit magical (even though there was no magic in it). I love books about hotels :D
My favourite part was the pictures. I loved the art style, and they were so beautiful.
I really loved this one.
This book was so cute! I am not the target market with this book, but I loved as an adult, too.
The story was cute and a little bit magical (even though there was no magic in it). I love books about hotels :D
My favourite part was the pictures. I loved the art style, and they were so beautiful.
I really loved this one.
June 8, 2023
What a great read! This children's book is filled with quirky illustrations and fun characters. The story is about a young boy's dream to become a chef. I loved everything about it. The rich and colourful visuals, the myriad of personalities, the writing style and the message to pursue your dream, believe in yourself while being helpful to others. The lead character's kind heart allows him to save the day and shine.
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