A True Home

June 5, 2017
Seeking shelter in a storm, a mouse named Mona stumbles on the Heartwood Hotel, a swanky getaway for woodland animals located within a tree, then gets hired as a maid. In this compassionate and comforting first book in the Heartwood Hotel series, George (the Magical Animal Adoption Agency series) introduces a supremely cozy setting in the hideaway hotel and a well-developed cast of staffers and guests. Mona’s innate kindness goes a long way at an establishment whose motto is “We live by ‘protect and respect,’ not by ‘tooth and claw.’ ” Final art not seen by PW. Ages 7–10. Author’s agent: Emily van Beek, Folio Literary Management. Illustrator’s agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.

May 1, 2017
An orphan mouse unexpectedly arrives at Heartwood Hotel, which she hopes will become the home she's seeking.Mona's never had a home for long. After a storm forces her to flee her latest forest shelter, she discovers an enormous tree with a heart carved into its trunk. When Mona presses the heart, a door opens, and she enters the lobby of Heartwood Hotel, where small forest critters hibernate, eat, and celebrate in safety. The kindhearted badger proprietor, Mr. Heartwood, takes pity on homeless Mona, allowing her to stay for the fall to assist the maid, Tilly, a red squirrel. Grateful to be at Heartwood, Mona strives to prove herself despite Tilly's unfriendly attitude. Mona's clever approaches with a wounded songbird, an anxious skunk, and a wayward bear win Mr. Heartwood's approval. But when Mona accidentally breaks a rule, Tilly convinces her she will be fired. As Mona secretly leaves Heartwood, she discovers marauding wolves planning to crash Heartwood's Snow Festival and devises a daring plan to save the place she regards as home. Charming anthropomorphic characters, humorous mishaps, and outside threats add to the drama. Delicate pencil illustrations reinforce Heartwood's cozy home theme. A sequel, The Greatest Gift, publishes simultaneously. A plucky mouse finds her true home in this warm, winning tale. (Animal fantasy. 7-10)

COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 1, 2017
Grades 1-4 Washed out of her tree stump by a fierce storm, Mona the mouse is serendipitously deposited at the hidden door of the Heartwood Hotel, a sanctuary and getaway for woodland creatures. The kindly proprietor offers the penniless mouse room and board if she's willing to work as a maid. Mona is thrilled by the prospect and the way the Heartwood's animals live peacefully together. The Heartwood soon begins to feel like home, despite another maid's prickly demeanor, and Mona shows herself to be brave and resourceful. One night, a pack of wolves invades the forest, intent on attacking the Heartwood, and it takes all of Mona's courage to devise a plan that will keep her new home and friends safe. This warm series starter is easy to love, and it will make a great addition to early chapter-book collections. The endearing black-and-white illustrations and smooth writing will help kids read with confidence, while the mild suspense and gentle characters will capture their attention. Mona's second adventure, The Greatest Gift, publishes simultaneously.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2018
In Fernwood Forest, a fall rainstorm brings homeless mouse Mona to the Heartwood Hotel's tree. She becomes a maid, befriends the animal staff and guests, and gains a home (�cf2]True�cf1]). While most guests hibernate for winter, Mona helps solve the hotel's mysterious food shortage (�cf2]Greatest�cf1]). George's enchanting new series features diminutive critters with big hearts, sweetly depicted in Graegin's plentiful, detailed spot and full-page pencil illustrations.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)