About the Holiday

Children’s Book Week is the longest-running national literacy program in the United States, going back to 1913, when Franklin K. Matthiews, the librarian of the Boy Scouts of America, proposed the holiday. The date of the celebration has bounced around a bit, from November to May and then quickly becoming a twice-a-year event in November and May in 2018. Organized by Every Child a Reader, Children Book Week’s theme for 2025 is “An Ocean of Stories.” This theme celebrates the “vast, collective ocean populated by the stories we read, share, and tell.” To learn more about this literary holiday, visit Every Child a Reader to find out more about the week and discover lots of resources, including bookmarks and activities to download.

Thank you to Beach Lane Books and Barbara Fisch at Blue Slip Media for sending me a copy of this book for review!

The Elevator on 74th Street

Written by Laura Gehl | Illustrated by Yas Imamura

Ellie the elevator loved all of the tenants in her building and treated each person with special care, for instance she played “her music louder for Mrs. Sanchez who was deaf in one ear,” and held the doors open extra long for Mr. Chen who used a cane. She did, however, have a “soft spot for Thea,” whose first day home from the hospital as a baby was Ellie’s first day in the building.

Illustration © 2025 by Yas Imamura. Text © 2025 by Laura Gehl. Courtesy of Beach Lane Books.

Ellie had watched Thea grow up, so when her best friend had to move away, Ellie wanted to make her feel better. She tried playing her favorite song over and over and “lit up her buttons to form a T.” While these kind gestures helped, Thea was still sad. Then one day a new family moved in with a girl Thea’s age named Claire. Ellie hoped they would connect, but it never happened.

Illustration © 2025 by Yas Imamura. Text © 2025 by Laura Gehl. Courtesy of Beach Lane Books.

When Thea found Claire’s favorite hat in the lobby, Ellie took her to the right floor to return it. That started them talking. In only a few weeks, they were practicing dance moves together, wearing the same outfit, telling jokes, and sharing good news and bad. Ellie was excited to see their burgeoning friendship, even if they didn’t notice her part in it. 

But they did. In fact, Thea and Claire decided to throw a party for Ellie. They decorated her interior and her doorway, and the tenants gathered in the lobby to listen to music, dance, and celebrate. Ellie couldn’t help but love her job even more.

Illustration © 2025 by Yas Imamura. Text © 2025 by Laura Gehl. Courtesy of Beach Lane Books.

Laura Gehl’s delightful story is made all the more enchanting for its unique setting and sweet, caring main character. Gehl captures the vibe of a diverse apartment-building community as Ellie notices the needs of each tenant and loves everyone who steps inside her doors. Her special bond with Thea will charm readers as they watch her find a new friend and celebrate Ellie’s part in it. Children who live in apartment-style buildings or condos will love the representation here, and those who just love elevators (what child doesn’t love pushing the buttons?) will also find much to enjoy in Gehl’s book.

Yas Imamura populates her art deco apartment building with a pleasing array of personalities and ages. Kids will have fun catching sight of various tenants multiple times throughout the story and watching Thea and Claire’s friendship blossom from not noticing each other to besties. The star of the show, though, is Ellie, and she’s a dear with her sprightly blue edifice, filigree button cover, expressive eyes, and row of floor numbers that curve into a smile when she’s especially happy. Readers may even enjoy making up stories for all of the building’s tenants!

An adorable book about kindness and making friends amongst the flair of city living, The Elevator on 74th Street should be going up on your picture book shelves!

Ages 4 – 8

Beach Lane Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1665905077

About the Author

Laura Gehl is the author of One Big Pair of Underwear, Cat Has a Plan, Goat Wants to Eat, Pig Makes Art, Dog Can Hide, Cat Sees Snow, Frog Can Hop, Snow Is…, You’re the Sprinkles on My Ice Cream, You’re the Pumpkin in My Pie, and The Elevator on 74th Street. She lives with her husband and their four kids in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Visit her online at LauraGehl.com.

About the Illustrator

Yas Imamura is an Asian American illustrator living in Portland, Oregon. Her works include collaborations with Anthropologie and Sanrio, as well as her growing list of children’s books such as Can You Imagine? by Lisa Tolin and The Elevator on 74th Street by Laura Gehl. Her preferred materials are gouache and watercolor and she often finds herself drawn to projects that are playful, mysterious, and a little offbeat.

Children’s Book Week Activity

Children’s Book Week Coloring Page

Download and print this An Ocean of Stories coloring page of the official 2025 Children’s Book Week poster by author Julie Flett. You can find more coloring pages as well as bookmarks to print from Every Child a Reader here.

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