The Elf on the Shelf includes a special scout elf sent from the North Pole to help Santa Claus manage his naughty and nice lists. When a family adopts a scout elf and gives it a name, the scout elf receives its Christmas magic and can fly to the North Pole each night to tell Santa Claus about all of the day's adventures.
Each morning, the scout elf returns to its family and perches in a different place to watch the fun. Children love to wake up and race around the house looking for their scout elf each morning.
Peyton Lisoway of Preeceville is a professional when it comes to behaving and loving her special elf. Her special elf, Candy Sprinkles, has returned for three consecutive years in a row and this year is no exception.
“When Peyton first received her special Elf on the Shelf, she discovered him between the doors, apprently delivered by Santa,” said her mother, Charlyn Lisoway. “She was so excited she couldn’t wait to open it and read the special story that came with him and explained that she couldn’t touch him or he would loose his magic. Every morning when she wakes up, she looks to see what mischief he has been up to or where he is hiding. This year he is playing a hide-and-seek game with Peyton and she loves it. He arrives every December 1 and leaves to go back to the North Pole on December 24. Even though he has been around for three years, he still holds magic for Peyton and she loves him and is excited that he shares his magic with her.”
Alecia Shuya’s elf arrived for the first time at her house on December 1.
“Alecia was so excited to find her elf in a tree – the excitement and the magic surrounding the elf has been very exciting for her,” said Loranda Blender, her mother.
The Elf on the Shelf comes in a keepsake box that features a hardbound picture book and a small soft toy in the form of a pixie scout elf. The story describes how Santa's "scout elves" hide in people's homes to watch over events. Once everyone goes to bed, the scout elf flies back to the North Pole to report to Santa the activities, good and bad, that have taken place throughout the day. Before the family wakes up each morning, the scout elf flies back from the North Pole and hides. By hiding in a new spot each morning around the house, the scout elf and the family play an on-going game of hide and seek.
The Elf on the Shelf legend explains that scout elves get their magic by being named. In the back of each book, families have an opportunity to write their elf's name and the date that they adopted it. Once the elf is named, the scout elf receives its special Christmas magic, which allows it to fly to and from the North Pole.
The book tells how the magic might disappear if the scout elf is touched, so the rule for The Elf on the Shelf states, "There's only one rule that you have to follow, so I will come back and be here tomorrow: Please do not touch me. My magic might go, and Santa won't hear all I've seen or I know."
Although families are told not to touch their scout elf, they can talk to it and tell it all their Christmas wishes so that it can accurately report back to Santa.
The story ends on Christmas Day with the elf leaving to stay with Santa until the following Christmas season.
The Elf on the Shelf story was written in 2004 by Carol Aebersold and daughter Chanda Bell over a cup of tea. Bell suggested they write a book about a well-known tradition of an elf sent from Santa who came to watch over them at Christmas time.
Aebersold's other daughter, Christa Pitts, was recruited by the family to share her expertise in sales and marketing. Together, the trio devoted the next three years promoting their self-published book and attending book signings and trade shows.
The Elf on the Shelf won the Best Toy Award by Learning Express in 2008. It won the Book of the Year Award from Creative Child Awards and the National Best Books 2008 Award sponsored by USA Book News.
