The Barrel in the Basement — Barbara Brooks Wallace

"This is a story about furkens, descendants of a branch of genus elf, who have lost their elfin powers of being able to vanish and now hide fearfully in human houses. They are sadly often mistaken for mice, although don't smell like mice. They smell like warm apricot jam

They are ""endearing, fully developed creatures,"" says Horn Book.

ALA Booklist adds, ""A tale that will have readers clamoring for a sequel."""