Kam&#039;s Place

Meet the Author

Nathan Christopher is a former child and aspiring adult who enjoys spreadsheets and—far more useful for his writing—making people laugh. Nathan is the creator of the When They Wrote Back! series of funny holiday picture books, beginning with When Santa Wrote Back! (Sourcebooks Wonderland, 2025). Follow-ups include When the Witch Wrote Back! and When the Easter Bunny Wrote Back! (2026) and When the Leprechaun Wrote Back! (2027). He pens his stories (and his letters to Santa) in Windsor, Canada, where he lives with his wife and children—who ensure endless material and a conveniently sleepless schedule for writing.

Amazon Author Page Link

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Tagged as black cat, boo basket, book spotlight, early readers, elementary school, funny, Halloween, Halloween party, Holidays, humor, letter, magic, magic powers, party, picture book, witch

October 19, 2026 · 7:00 am

At the Ragtag Hotel: Chaos in the Courtyard by Freya Novak (Book Review)

ONE DINGO, SIX ANIMALS, AND AN APPROACHING STORM.

With so much on his plate, Dallas Dingo is feeling the pressure, but the residents of the Ragtag Hotel are counting on him. Can he secure everything amid the fierce winds while trying to fix everyone’s problems? Brace yourself, as a storm is brewing!

🌏 Learn about animals from the different corners of the globe
🎁 Perfect gift for teaching young children about friendship and kindness
🌙 A short bedtime story to send your child off to sleep with a smile
❤️ Charming characters and illustrations ideal for young children ages 4-9 years

(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)

Storms wreak havoc worldwide. They topple homes, destroy landscapes and properties, and leave their mark on communities for years. At the Ragtag Hotel: Chaos in the Courtyard takes readers through the preparation and aftermath of a severe thunderstorm. It shows how six hotel occupants band together to help Dallas Dingo (the go-to worker for everything at the hotel) clean up the outdoor damage caused by the storm.

At the Ragtag Hotel: Chaos in the Courtyard opens the door for kids to share how their family prepares for bad weather, express their feelings about storms, and (if applicable) how storms have affected their life or city. This story might inspire your family or class to gather supplies, create a disaster plan, and donate to a community in need. It’s a great segue into teaching children about disaster preparedness and safety measures.

At the Ragtag Hotel: Chaos in the Courtyard uses animals to focus on a real-life scenario. As we watch Dingo scramble to prepare the pool area for the impending bad weather, we also see him put others’ needs before his own. (All seven animal characters were first introduced in “At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride.”) The dingo has a lot on his plate, but through it all, readers notice he never loses his smile or his willingness to help others, and Dallas’s kind acts do not go unnoticed or unappreciated.

At the Ragtag Hotel: Chaos in the Courtyard is a beautifully crafted story. You can almost feel the wind blowing across the pages. I loved the inclusion of Spanish, Swahili, and Filipino words in the English-written story. I liked the world map that shows where the 7 characters call home, and the page introducing a fun fact about each animal featured in the story. The only additional item I would’ve included was a pronunciation key for the foreign words.

I recommend At the Ragtag Hotel: Chaos in the Courtyard and At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride for children 4 years and older.

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score: ❤️❤️❤️❤️1/2

Meet the Author

Award-winning author Freya Novak makes a notable debut in children’s picture books with her breakout novel, At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride.

Loved by critics and readers alike, the book has won the Firebird Children’s Book Award, the North America Gold Book Award, the Readers’ Favorite Silver Book Award, and the Royal Dragonfly Book Award for New Author – Fiction and Best Children’s Picture Book.

The second book in the Ragtag Hotel series, Chaos in the Courtyard, will be released in October 2026.

Novak is an author and educator passionate about storytelling and dedicated to teaching. She has travelled throughout Western Australia, reaching remote schools to provide education and inspiration. Her stories evoke a sense of place, culture, and human connection.

Amazon Author Page Link

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Tagged as animal book, animals, bedtime story, book series, children's book, early readers, elementary school, friendship, helping others, high winds, hotel, hotel pool, kindness, pay it forward, picture book, pool, pre-k, Ragtag Hotel, Storm, storm damage, thunderstorm

October 16, 2026 · 7:00 am

Halloween Search-and-Find Adventures: A Hunt Full of Tricks and Treats by Gus Morais (Book Spotlight)

Ready for a Halloween activity that’s more treat than trick? Halloween Search-and-Find Adventures keeps kids giggling, guessing, and glued to every page while secretly boosting their focus and observation skills. It’s the kind of screen-free fun they’ll beg to do “just one more time!”

Packed with vibrant, detailed illustrations, this playful book transforms Halloween into an unforgettable interactive experience for children and families alike. Each page features a bustling Halloween scene, complete with sneaky skeletons, creepy pumpkin patches, haunted houses, and more, all filled with your favorite Halloween characters.

With this search-and-find, you will:

Keep kids entertained for hours with engaging, screen-free Halloween fun
Strengthen observation skills as they hunt for cleverly hidden surprises
Build focus and patience through interactive, repeatable challenges
Spark imagination with playful ghosts, pumpkins, and whimsical spooky scenes
Turn quiet time into an exciting “I found it!” experience

From tricky pumpkins to mischievous monsters, every search is a new mini adventure bursting with color, charm, and just the right amount of spooky fun. Whether it’s for cozy fall nights or on-the-go entertainment, this is the Halloween activity book kids will reach for again and again.

Can your little monster spot them all?

Take a peek inside….

Meet the Author

Gus Morais is an award-winning Brazilian illustrator based in Madrid, Spain, known for his intricate and vibrant illustrations filled with joyful, densely populated scenes. With nearly 15 years of experience, Gus has created work for major international clients across editorial, publishing, advertising, and entertainment, including The Washington Post, Warner Bros Games, LEGO, DC Comics, LucasArts, Wizarding World, and AT&T. He is the long-time creator of The Washington Post’s annual Christmas search-and-find illustration, a reader favorite.

Beyond editorial and commercial projects, Gus has illustrated packaging, puzzles, children’s books, murals, large-scale posters, and digital campaigns. His recent collaboration with Frontify on the viral “Spot the Brand” campaign earned two Drum Awards, including Gold in the Illustration category. He is a three-time recipient of the Society for News Design’s prestigious Award of Excellence.

Amazon Author Page Link

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Tagged as activity book, book spotlight, games, ghosts, Halloween, hidden items, hide and seek, Holidays, illstrated, interactive books, monsters, pumpkins, screen-free fun, search-and-find

October 12, 2026 · 7:00 am

Hedgehog Vs. Fear by Jolie Canoli (Book Spotlight)

Anxiety and fear can be crippling for little humans! They need tools to identify, deal with, and overcome their fears. Hedgehog Vs. Fear is a picture book that gives fear a clear characterization and voice that equips kids to address their fear with clarity. Luckily, we can approach a scary subject like fear with the help of an adorable hedgehog who has gone there, done that, and come out the other side with victory!

The story begins with an eager hedgehog excited to embark on childhood adventures— play at the playground, swim at the pool, and ride a bike— but he is confronted by fear at every turn. Fear takes Hedgehog’s reasonable concerns and causes him to imagine awful, unreasonable, and outright ridiculous scenarios. The power of Fear overtakes Hedgehog until he even struggles to sleep at night.

Luckily Dad comes along, giving Hedgehog solutions to handle these unwarranted fears. Dad counsels Hedgehog to consider:

Is fear helpful?
Are his anxious concerns based on truth?
Are hedgehog’s aspirations good things that are worth his effort?

If so, Hedgehog should find a way to overcome in order to achieve his goals in a safe and fearless manner.

Eventually, Hedgehog does just that. He can climb a mountain, and even make a new friend, overcoming a fear of heights and social anxiety.

Hedgehog vs. Fear is a fun read with important life lessons packed into a vibrant short story. Kids and parents will appreciate having valuable morals to refer back to when confronting anxiety in everyday life.

Read My Review on Reedsy Discovery!

Meet the Author

Jolie began writing as a mime. She fell in love with a mime, and together they traveled the world breaking out of imaginary boxes. Now they have five noisy children who inspire Jolie to write children’s books and perform kids’ shows with puppet characters from her books.

Website Link

Amazon Author Page Link
Instagram Link
Reedsy Author Link

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as adventures, animal books, anxiety, emotions, emotions and feeling book, fear, feelings, hedgehog, imagination, mental health, picture book

October 9, 2026 · 7:00 am

The Cheeky Capybara (2 book series) by Kateryna Dronova (Book Spotlight)

Join Tito, the cheeky capybara, on unforgettable adventures through the heart of the Amazon rainforest!

From winding rivers and hidden jungle trails to mysterious swamps and towering trees, Tito and his friends discover a world filled with extraordinary animals. Each story is packed with humor, exciting adventures, and gentle lessons about courage, friendship, and kindness. With every new journey, young readers will learn amazing facts about one of the world’s most incredible ecosystems while falling in love with its unforgettable animal heroes.

Amazon Purchase Link to Book One

Amazon Purchase Link to Book Two

Meet the Author

Kateryna Dronova is a children’s writer who loves turning imagination into playful and heartfelt stories. Growing up surrounded by rich traditions and storytelling, she draws inspiration for her tales that nurture curiosity, courage, and kindness in young readers. Kateryna believes books can spark magic in every child—and she writes to share that wonder.