A Mammoth in the Fridge

French writer Escoffier imagines what happens when a family discovers an Ice Age mammal hunched in their refrigerator. Maudet’s illustrations, done in the style of flat, four-color illustrations from 1960s-era picture books, show the mammoth as it bolts from the fridge, escapes a squad of firefighters, and leaps nimbly to the top of a nearby tree. “We could be here till fall,” a firefighter says, disgruntled, and leaves with his crew. “It’s not our problem,” the father pronounces, leading the family home. The story’s conclusion answers some questions (“Whose mammoth is it?”), but is coquettish about others (“How did it get there?”). Spoiler alert: the mammoth belongs to Elsa, the family’s small daughter, who sneaks out to rescue it after dark. Four delightful spreads show tiny Elsa holding out a bunch of carrots to lure the huge, shame-faced mammoth up the stairs and back into her room. Another nice touch: she calls it “Kitty.” A third: rereading reveals that Elsa’s expressions, which register as fear of the mammoth the first time around, are actually consternation about the fate of her pet. Ages 3–up. (Sept.)