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The Elevator
“Every trip changes us, even a trip on the elevator.”
A girl and her dog begin their afternoon walk. But before they can get outside to the street, they must take the elevator in their apartment building. She presses the button to go down, but the elevator goes up. Who called it? Is it broken? As the reader turns the page, the girl arrives at different floors, where new friendships are made, old stories are told, and a surprise is revealed. Beautiful human connections filled with kindness and empathy happen in this elevator in what would usually be a routine encounter.
White Ravens Award, International Youth Library, Munich, 2020
Winner of the Best Illustration at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival 2019
Laureate “Image of the Book” Best Picture Book at the XII International Contest for Book Illustration and Design, Moscow, 2019
Playful book design and illustrations created with drawing, collage, and photography, this is the debut publication in the US of Argentinian author and illustrator Yael Frankel, who transforms simple everyday moments into whimsical stories.
A girl and her dog begin their afternoon walk. But before they can get outside to the street, they must take the elevator in their apartment building. She presses the button to go down, but the elevator goes up. Who called it? Is it broken? As the reader turns the page, the girl arrives at different floors, where new friendships are made, old stories are told, and a surprise is revealed. Beautiful human connections filled with kindness and empathy happen in this elevator in what would usually be a routine encounter.
White Ravens Award, International Youth Library, Munich, 2020
Winner of the Best Illustration at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival 2019
Laureate “Image of the Book” Best Picture Book at the XII International Contest for Book Illustration and Design, Moscow, 2019
Playful book design and illustrations created with drawing, collage, and photography, this is the debut publication in the US of Argentinian author and illustrator Yael Frankel, who transforms simple everyday moments into whimsical stories.
- GenresPicture Books
44 pages, Hardcover
Published November 24, 2020
39 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 2, 2025
ay wow, original desde el tamaño del libro y la forma...como un ascensor!
me encanta
me encanta
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August 29, 2023Who cares?
Teaches kids to live life stress free and not dwell on the bad things. I enjoy the creepy art style.
Teaches kids to live life stress free and not dwell on the bad things. I enjoy the creepy art style.
Read
April 29, 2025Illustration 5
May 17, 2021
Los ilustraciones eran genial! pero la cuenta no me interesa.
November 26, 2022
Puede parecer que es una historia sin profundidad, pero es todo lo contrario. Deja una impresión duradera porque te miras en ese personaje que dice "no importa". ¿Cuándo dejan de importar las cosas en verdad? No cuando le restamos peso a un comentario hiriente o a la soledad, aun cuando sentimos dolor y angustia. Todo dejar de importar cuando nos encontramos con otras personas y podemos estar con ellas.
May 25, 2024
As a young girl and her dog Roco enter the elevator from the 4th floor of their apartment, intending to go for a walk (Roco really has to go), instead of down the elevator goes up. First to Ms. Paula's floor ~ Ms. Paula is afraid of dogs ~ then to the oldest man in the building, Mr. Miguel, and finally to Cora and the twins in their stroller. And when all are aboard, the elevator gets stuck between floors.
But that's okay because delightful events transpire. Cora's twins cry, Mr. Miguel entertains them with a story. When Cora states the twins are hungry, Ms. Paula shares the cake (with everyone) she was intending to take to a friend. A lovely tribute to the theme of the importance of accepting fate and looking on the bright side as well as the importance of neighborhood bonding is delightfully shared in this elevator-shaped, black-and-white (with a spot or two or red) illustrated timely tale.
But that's okay because delightful events transpire. Cora's twins cry, Mr. Miguel entertains them with a story. When Cora states the twins are hungry, Ms. Paula shares the cake (with everyone) she was intending to take to a friend. A lovely tribute to the theme of the importance of accepting fate and looking on the bright side as well as the importance of neighborhood bonding is delightfully shared in this elevator-shaped, black-and-white (with a spot or two or red) illustrated timely tale.
September 13, 2022
When I say that I love books that are a piece of art, this book is what I mean. It's so obvious that Frankel and his publishers care deeply about this book, from the artistry (which look to be hand-carved rubber stamps) to the story of coming together and getting to know your neighbors on a deeper level. While traversing the broken piece of equipment, the main character's dog needs to go outside, her neighbor is trying to deliver a cake, and the oldest neighbor tries to comfort a new mother and her twins when they get hungry by telling a story.
The matte pages, the unusual length of the book, and a smaller, tinier book written by Mr. Miguel encased in vellum truly goes to show how gorgeous this picture book is.
The matte pages, the unusual length of the book, and a smaller, tinier book written by Mr. Miguel encased in vellum truly goes to show how gorgeous this picture book is.
October 19, 2021
Wow! The production quality of this book is 5 + stars!
In my experience, picture books can seem a little dull in translation—maybe there is some sparkle that is lost? This picture book was originally written in Spanish, and while I read the English translation it seems (from skimming the Spanish reviews here) that this is not the case here—I take it there wasn't much of a story to begin with.
Though the story is lackluster, I think readers of any age will like the high contrast artwork, and young readers will especially like the tiny "book" tucked into the book in the back. (A darling touch!)
5 stars artwork
2 stars story
3/3.5 star average
In my experience, picture books can seem a little dull in translation—maybe there is some sparkle that is lost? This picture book was originally written in Spanish, and while I read the English translation it seems (from skimming the Spanish reviews here) that this is not the case here—I take it there wasn't much of a story to begin with.
Though the story is lackluster, I think readers of any age will like the high contrast artwork, and young readers will especially like the tiny "book" tucked into the book in the back. (A darling touch!)
5 stars artwork
2 stars story
3/3.5 star average
March 9, 2021
Me gusta el formato y cómo se va desarrollando la historia dentro del elevador.
Le doy 4.5 porque además se incluía un mini libro de la historia del oso que uno de los vecinos cuenta. Esa historia ya se me hacía linda, pero con el librito le da un plus.
Me gusta como las cosas se transforman dentro de un pequeño espacio.
Le doy 4.5 porque además se incluía un mini libro de la historia del oso que uno de los vecinos cuenta. Esa historia ya se me hacía linda, pero con el librito le da un plus.
Me gusta como las cosas se transforman dentro de un pequeño espacio.
November 5, 2024
I liked how this book was long in size like an elevator. It was nice how the characters in this book started by not liking each other that much to wanting to spend more time together. There was a surprise at the very back. The story one of the characters was sharing! It was a cute surprise.
Award: Outstanding International Book
Copyright date: 2020
Award: Outstanding International Book
Copyright date: 2020
June 25, 2022
Loved this book! So darling!!
November 22, 2023
Lo releí 3 veces. De esos libros que te dejan mascullando un algo más. Excelente para compartir en familia o en soledad!
March 17, 2024
beautifully illustrated. more art than illustration. opening my eyes in what it takes to make a children’s book. a bucket list idea.
September 23, 2021
This book was unique. It was a story within a story. The art had amazing details and textures and there was a hidden narrative about a bear, the story his hidden on the back cover so you can finish that story as well. I found it cool that all of the people started on the elevator knowing each other and came out of the elevator as friends going to gather and drink tea together.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews