THE ELF OF UNION SQUARE

Positive thinkers beware. Hiram, the hostile and cantankerous old elf who resides in New York’s Union Square Park, is doing his level best to wipe out anything akin to happiness or good will in this bustling city oasis. Spreading copious amounts of dog poop triggers discord between the dog owners and the dogless; soap on the playground equipment causes injury and subsequent crowding in the park restaurant; and an organized infestation of rats in the eatery causes problems for everyone, including the multitudes of Rattus norvegicus. It’s up to Jack, a resourceful boy, and Will, a capable New York Times reporter, to figure out what’s going on and find a way to restore peace so that the denizens of downtown can once again enjoy their sliver of green. This doesn’t generate much story steam despite its copious action, but it’s gently humorous and morally instructive. Though a bit wearisome, it’s full of recognizable New York types and has an old-fashioned read-aloud feel. (Fiction. 9-12)