 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Elf on the Shelf
- By Carol V. Aebersold, Chanda A. Bell
- Genre: Holiday
Common Sense Media says
Hit holiday book fun for kids but requires parent action.
Parents say
Kids say
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 this year.
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?
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. The concept is better than the execution. And the bright watercolor illustrations are colorful but not very sophisticated.
What families can talk 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?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Kid, 11 years old
November 30, 2011
AGE
Beam story
it is nice to read this story
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Topics: | magic and fantasy |
| Authors: | Carol V. Aebersold, Chanda A. Bell |
| Illustrator: | Coe Steinwart |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Holiday |
| Publisher: | CCA and B |
| Publication date: | January 1, 2005 |
| Number of pages: | 26 |
| Hardcover price: | $29.95 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 4 - 8 |
| Read aloud: | 8 |
| Read alone: | 8 |
Review It
Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already read it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
