Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Hit holiday book fun for kids but requires parent action.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
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 :
- Illustrator : Coe Steinwart
- Genre : Holiday
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- 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 1, 2025
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