Ella

What if Eloise was a hipster-in-training and lived in a chicly gritty boutique hotel, instead of the venerable Plaza? While some of Ella’s unrepentant mischief directly descends from her forebear (“I have to go through the halls and collect ‘Privacy Please!’ signs from the doorknobs”), she’s a full-fledged child of this century, with her Wi-Fi demands and endearing male nanny, who has “tattoos for sleeves” and “might go in with some guys to buy a grilled cheese truck.” Debut author Kasdan name checks urban standbys from edamame to Zumba, while fellow first-timer Chin’s funny full-color vignettes of a multicultural downtown scene and a heedlessly energetic child are loving tributes to Hilary Knight’s originals. But does it work as a children’s book? Eloise did because the line between adults and children couldn’t have been clearer, and WASP-y social mores were ripe for pint-size insurrection. Ella, however, is surrounded by grownups who are running as fast as they can from staid maturity. When everyone is in touch with his or her inner child, the one real kid becomes just another face in the crowd. Ages 5–up. Author’s agent: Rebecca Gradinger, Fletcher & Company. (Jan.)