THE ELEPHANT AT THE WALDORF

In a light, goofy tale, a circus caravan rolls up to the Waldorf Astoria one summer night. The troupe unloads, all except the elephant, who is somewhat reluctant. A circus girl tries to bribe the beast, clowns entice, acrobats beg—all in vain. Even the animal trainer—arrogant, self-important, cocksure—can't coax the pachyderm from the truck. Simple etiquette saves the day, and soon the elephant is hammering out some thunderous soft shoe in the hotel's golden ballroom. Miranda (Does a Mouse Have a House? 1994, etc.) keeps things rolling with appealing, Seuss-esque syncopation. Vanderbeek's pictures are suitably brash, jazzy compositions, full of luminous reveries. If illustrations can appear hyperactive, these do, complementing this strange urban tale, to be mostly read for laughs. (Picture book. 4-8)