The Elf of Union Square [Hardcover]

Jan Carr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 23, 2004 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Hiram the Elf has had enough—not only has Union Square Park been cleaned up and made safe, but everyone who visits the Square is so infernally nice. So with the help of Knut the rat, he launches a sneaky campaign to return Union Square to the “bad old days.” A little dog poop on the walkways, a little soap on the monkey bars, and suddenly the regulars of Union Square are at war with each other. But a boy named Jack and his reporter friend Will know that someone must be behind all the chaos. Will they discover the culprit before it’s too late for Union Square?

With a lovably silly cast of characters that any reader will recognize, Jan Carr’s debut novel is a brilliant combination of big laughs and sly satire. In no time you’ll be rooting for Jack and Will to save the day... or for Hiram to wreck it!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7-Carr's distinctly drawn New York setting harks back to the likes of George Selden's The Genie of Sutton Place (Farrar, 1994) or Louise Fitzhugh's Harriet the Spy (Turtleback, 1964). However, the diminutive central character out-grinches the Grinch--weak efforts to give him some redeeming qualities at the end notwithstanding--and the humans are caricatured in ways more likely to resonate with adults. Fed up with seeing so many happy passersby, Union Square's resident elf, Hiram, initiates a campaign of annoyances to drive them all out: dog poop on the walkways, soap on the playground equipment, a plague of rats to close down the café and the Greenmarket. As young local resident Jack and his new acquaintance Will, a Times reporter, look on in puzzlement, smiles change to frowns, people begin snapping at one another, hostility mounts, and a strident busybody starts organizing protests--all of which culminates in a sudden, destructive riot. Though Jack catches a glimpse of the elusive, self-satisfied Hiram, it's Will's thought piece about how we all have mean-spirited inner elves to battle that brings on a round of apologies and a restoration of the park's sunny atmosphere. Defeated, Hiram departs on the subway. Those who are familiar with the bustling, handsome park may enjoy seeing it in a story, but the largely grown-up cast and points of narrative view will limit the book's appeal for child readers.--John Peters, New York Public Library
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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (February 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399241809
• ISBN-13: 978-0399241802
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,781,467 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jan Carr was born in upstate New York and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. After graduating from Cornell University, she worked as a teacher, a film editor, and a production assistant for Children's Television Workshop. She also worked as an associate editor and writer for Sesame Street Parent's Newsletter and as an editor of children's books at a publishing house.

Since becoming a full-time writer, Carr has written over 50 books for children, including the well-received picture books 'Cause I Love You, Greedy Apostrophe: A Cautionary Tale, Big Truck and Little Truck, Frozen Noses, Dappled Apples Splish Splash Spring, The Nature of the Beast, and Dark Day Light Night, as well as the middle grade novel The Elf Of Union Square. She lives in New York City with her husband and son.

Visit Jan Carr's website at www.jancarr.net

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!!, May 13, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Elf of Union Square (Hardcover)

My ten year old daughter loved this book and read it in two nights!! It has been passed all around the fourth and fifth grades. Mystery, adventure, dog poop, what more could you want! An excellent choice for the 8 to 12 year old set.
Loved it!

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Story that Keeps You Reading, September 22, 2011

By 

DecemberJoy (City by the Sea, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Elf of Union Square (Hardcover)

The title is pretty much spot on; it's a story about an elf who lives in Union Square Park. Hiram, the elf, has lived there for many, many, many years and he isn't happy about all the people that are constantly walking, playing, and eating at his park. But what can one elf do about it? Well, actually he can do quite a lot and before you know it he has caused trouble for many of the park goers! Tempers are flared and the people of New York are becoming rude and inconsiderate of one another. Luckily Jack, a ten year old "detective", and his reporter friend Will begin to investigated the curious happenings at Union Square Park...but can they undo all the troublesome pranks that Hiram so cleverly planned and put into place?

All 166 pages of this book were fun to read! Each night I was excited about pulling this book off my shelf because I knew I was going to be reading more about that ol' rascally elf and I couldn't wait to see what else he had up his sleeve. Some of the stuff that he did made me think "uh-oh!" and I sometimes felt bad for those poor New Yorkers. As I continued to read I wondered just how these poor folks were going to outsmart his clever little elf...and when I finally got to the end of the book, I was happy about where the story lead me.

Interwoven into the story were morals for the children. Since Hiram was mischievous, the author balanced that by adding Jack and Will, and also Jack's mom Mimi. There were even secondary characters who helped teach the reader a few lessons such as courtesy, etiquette, and considering others and their feelings.

Yes, this is a book I would recommend to any aged reader who is looking for a fun adventure! The book is targeted for those readers who are between the ages of 8 to 12, but I think it's a great read for any person who is young at heart. If you have children then you should have a copy of this book on hand for them to read...or you can even read it aloud to them for story or quiet time.

5.0 out of 5 stars Even great for little ones, April 15, 2011

By 

Mom 24 (Waukesha, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Elf of Union Square (Hardcover)

I've been reading this to my 1st grade boy at night, a few chapters each night. He loves it! It's a bit advanced for him but the second I mention dog poop he is totally focused! A great introduction to chapter books for the younger crowd.