THE CHILDREN ON THE TOP FLOOR

This book follows in the successful footprints of the author's many career Shoes stories. When a popular TV commentator adds a wistful note to his Christmas Eve message that ""Christmas is not Christmas without children,"" he wakes up the following morning to find four anonymous infants on his doorstep. The babies received a flood of contracts to act in commercials, which they did steadily until they became 10. That year their guardian disappeared, giving the children a chance to lead a more normal life. With the spotlight removed, the four were able to develop their individual interests and promptly decided on their individual futures--as TV actress, wardrobe mistress, cameraman, and engineer. When the children are described together, they show promise of being a lively group, but these scattered moments barely compensate for the basic absurdity of the situation.