The Elf on the Shelf
Hit holiday book fun for kids but requires parent action.
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this popular self-published book comes with a toy elf that parents will be instructed to hide each night, in keeping with the story's premise that the elf monitors your kids' behavior wherever they are and reports back to Santa Claus while the kids are sleeping. It's an update of the notion that Santa "sees you when you're sleeping/ He knows when you're awake/ He knows if you've been bad or good/ So be good for goodness sake." Same concept, but with elf help on site. The elf doll is available in "light skin" or "dark skin" and a skirt can be bought for a girl elf. You also might want to check out the TV version that came out in 2011.
Community Reviews
*chefs kiss*
Report this review
Fun!
Report this review
What's the Story?
Santa sends a little helper elf to watch the behavior of the kids in your family and report back each night while you sleep whether you've been naughty or nice. The book comes with a toy elf that parents hide in a different spot each night, adding to the understanding that the elf comes and goes and spies from different places. The elf comes "at holiday time" and after Christmas, returns to Santa until next year.
Is It Any Good?
The concept of this book is better than the execution. ELF ON THE SHELF brings a tradition developed in the home of the mother-daughter co-authors to readers who can embrace the idea that a little elf will be on duty, spying on kids' behavior and reporting back to his boss, Santa, who will make "the final decision" whether you "get your request." This idea of tying gifts to behavior is not new in the Christmas context, but it's awfully cut-and-dried in this story and may rub some parents the wrong way. Young kids will have fun with the game aspect and enjoy the toy, which they get to name, although according to the tradition, they are forbidden to touch it. The story is narrated by the elf in rhyming couplets, and the writing is not particularly clever. It's more of a cheery how-to manual. And the bright watercolor illustrations are colorful but not very sophisticated.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how it's sometimes hard to follow the rules. Do you think having the elf around will help you behave better?
Families can also talk about how they celebrate the holidays. What are your traditions?
Book Details
- Authors: Carol V. Aebersold, Chanda A. Bell
- Illustrator: Coe Steinwart
- Genre: Holiday
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: CCA and B
- Publication date: January 1, 2005
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 26
- Last updated: October 18, 2017
Our Editors Recommend
-
Grace at Christmas
Warm tale of a girl opening heart and home for the holiday.
-
A Christmas Tree for Pyn
Heartwarming story of getting Papa in the Christmas spirit.
-
A Bad Kitty Christmas
Funny Bad Kitty mayhem leads to holiday's true meaning.
For kids who love holidays
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate