Clarice Bean, Think Like an Elf

Clarice Bean

by Lauren Child

Join the one and only Clarice Bean and ‘Think Like an Elf’ in this irresistible and spectacularly sparkling Christmas story from the inimitable Lauren Child.Clarice Bean usually looks forward to Christmas.Except this year it is going to be a quiet-ish Christmas in her house, which doesn’t feel right because Christmas is all about noisiness and being full up and FAMILY.And without those things, she is going to have to try exceptionordinarily hard to stop the Christmas spirit completely floating away…But luckily, there is no one in the world like Clarice Bean – and she is going to THINK LIKE AN ELF, and that means everything will be A-OKAY. Won’t it?The one and only Clarice Bean is back to save her family’s Christmas in this sparkling story of joy, goodwill to all peoplekind, and some very Clarice catastrophes, perfect for sharing with all the family! Wrap yourself in the warmth and wit of former Children’s Laureate Lauren Child and be transported by the love and laughter that is Christmas with the utterly irreplaceable Clarice Bean.“We can’t get enough Clarice Bean.” The Sunday Times

Genres: Christmas, Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens, Friendship, Novels, Family

240 pages, Hardcover

Published October 28, 2021

About the author

Lauren Child MBE is an English author and illustrator. She was the UK Children's Laureate from 2017-19.

Child grew up in Wiltshire as the middle child of three sisters and the daughter of two teachers. She has always been interested in the many aspects of childhood, from gazing into toy shop windows to watching American children's shows from the 1960s. After attending two Art Schools, she travelled for six months, still unsure about which career to embark upon.

Before writing and illustrating children's books Child started her own company 'Chandeliers for the People' making lampshades. It was only when she came to write and illustrate the book Clarice Bean, That's Me that she decided to devote her time to writing and illustrating books for children, which combines her fascination for childhood and her talent for designing and creating. Child gets her inspiration from other people's conversations or from seeing something funny happen.

Her book I Will Not Ever Never Eat A Tomato won the 2000 Kate Greenaway Medal. For the 50th anniversary of the Medal (1955–2005), a panel named it one of the top ten winning works, which comprised the shortlist for a public vote for the nation's favourite. It finished third in the public vote from that shortlist.

Child lives in North London.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wife and I were huge fans of the original run of Clarice Bean books, so imagine how delighted we were when I stumbled across an interview with Lauren Child in The Guardian that informed me she’d returned to the series!

A quick purchase of all three new Bean books later, and the first of the three managed to become my final Christmas book of 2024… and it was fantastic.

Child’s illustrations are better than ever and Clarice Bean manages to cause absolute chaos for her family over the holiday period. I loved every page. I can’t wait for my wife to finish the next book so I can get my eager little paws on it…

[Charlotte Coyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this I felt like I was eight years old again! 😊

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read aloud. The kids and I enjoyed the very likable main character and the fun illustrations. Apparently this is part of a series that we had never even heard of. There is no mention of the true meaning of Christmas(CHRIST). The spirit of Christmas is just doing good and believing in something.. still recommend!

[Relyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say this book is utterly delightful and enchanting is an understatement. I just spent a delightful evening in the company of Clarice Bean and her wonderful family. I giggled, I snorted, I laughed outloud. What a wonderful book!

[El · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wholesome, Christmassy and cozy read

[Boo · Rating 5 out of 5]

the perfect nostalgic kick- i could read clarice bean again and again and again and never ever tire of it, it is utterly fantastic

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly adored this. Genuinely made me feel 9 years old again. 🥰

[Esme Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clarice Bean never misses

[Emmaby Barton Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

very nostalgic!! not smth i would normally read but mum got me this for christmas bc she saw it at the bookstore and i was obsessed w cb dont look now when i was younger

[Laura Feldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a gorgeous little story. A good read for those looking for a relaxed, good feeling story. I love the illustrations.

[Sunshine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, anyone who knows me, knows I’m a bit of a five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ giver when it comes to book review type scores.

BUT… this Clarice Bean book (which is also being known as ‘Clarice Bean, Think Like An Elf’) is exceptionordinarily, utterly brilliant and probably actually a full TEN WHOLE STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of the traditional five because it has everything you really need.

When a book is as good as this you just know it’s going to be Lauren Child doing another 10/5 star Clarice Bean story with all the really clever pictures and lots of fun and love and this one is even better because it’s a special Christmas edition full of Christmas 🎄 spirit which is perfect because if you read it you might turn out to also be full of the Christmas spirit like me.

Thank you to my 🍬♥️ for buying me this book for Christmas!🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

[Jayson (hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember getting “Utterly me, Clarice Bean” years ago and being throughly amused by it. More than 17 years later I’m back to being immersed in our favorite little heroine’s chaotic life. The non-uniform text highlighting and emphasizing different things, the illustrations that look pieces together all tell a tale that Clarice Bean herself would be proud of. Still haven’t figured out if her youngest brother is actually named Minal Cricket. I’m excited to finish this series off and dive into Ruby Redford- I have to know what all this hype about. I’d trust Clarice with her book recs.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

positively brilliant and delightful! a book for all ages to be sure.

[Robin Shakespeare · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to love Clarice Bean as a child, and thought they were great when I picked the originals back up at a friend's house in 2022 (thanks Jieyi!).

I got this as a comfort read around Christmas, but it didn't really feel inspired like the originals. Still cute though! Left it in my work staffroom for any colleagues with kids to take home.

[Frannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

things like an elf is a book where the character Clarence bean finds a lot of problems that have to solve them throughout the book

[Lisa Van Gemert | Gifted Guru · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole series is great, but this middle-grade book stands alone perfectly fine. There aren't page numbers, but it's 240 pages of holiday goodness.

The book has all the holiday feels of food and family and music, with a lot of Clarice's quirk thrown in. She's like a combination of Pippi Longstocking and Amelia Bedelia, but if they were just slightly less extra.

I am enraptured by the design. First, let's talk about the sketches that feel like collages with vintage elements. They're amazing. I found myself flipping back through the book to look again because they were so good.

But why stop there when you can talk about the fonts, too?

They're incredible! They change size and style and they wrap around the images and across the page.

So many Christmas books are picture books, and I love them, but to have a middle-grade Christmas book, well, that's a treasure.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every page either wows me with its lovely illustrations or makes me laugh out loud. “Perfect for getting 8 to 12 year olds in the Christmas spirit” was written in one review I read… well, it was perfect for getting this 39-year-old into the Christmas spirit!

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely going on my list of books to get me into a cheerful mood. It's exactly the sort of thing that seems like real life the way one might wish it to be: four kids, two parents, two grandparents, school friends, and aunts and uncles and cousins, plenty of dogs, a school concert, handmade presents, sudden changes in plans, meal fiasco, etc. Of course, there is the fight between Clarice Bean and her younger brother Minal Cricket on the kitchen floor, but that ends with only one bruise and having missed the last four minutes of the Ruby Redfort Special on t.v.

***

Feel free to skip on to the next paragraph, because in this one I digress to raise a cultural issue that utterly baffles me: putting the stocking on the foot of the bed. It's a reasonable and natural place to locate actual socks in the middle of a night, without fumbling about on the floor. But how is it possible for Santa (is "Father Christmas" not used, or is this a change for the American audience?) to creep into everyone's room quietly, not disturbing the occupants, carrying gifts and candy for a specific recipient which has to be transferred into the stocking? This seems like it guarantees that Santa is going to be tripping over and bumping into stuff, and walking into bedrooms where people are still quite awake, as well as having to drag his bag all over the house, which in this case seems to have six bedrooms. It's a much less efficient system than popping into one room only. How does he do it? This troubles me more than jetting about the entire world in a day, because whereas the living room and the designated real or symbolic mantel are usually rather tidy for the holiday, bedrooms are absolutely not. That's where all the miscellany that was cluttering up the living room has been temporarily stashed, on top of the normal daily dirty clothes and such. Unless, maybe, every bedroom isn't quite as untidy as ours with boxes unpacked for 11 years, and pet stairs and whatnot. My ADHD is really showing here, isn't it?

***

Anyway, this would make a charming hour and a half of family entertainment for purposes of avoiding actual fights on the kitchen floor. Truly, this would become required viewing, along with The Grinch, and Miracle on 34th Street, and Die Hard, and A Wish for Wings That Work, and Muppets Christmas Carol, and Scrooged, and such.

***

Addenda 6pm 30 June 2024

I have just learned that besides being of an age, Child has singled out two of my favorite books from childhood as two that were particularly influential on her:The Shrinking of Treehorn and The 18th Emergency. Mind, it isn't unusual to share a favorite book in English with many thousands of others in one's cohort, it's just a happy coincidence. But if she mentions THE TEDDY BEAR HABIT I will be truly amazed.


Library copy

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clarice Bean is worried that her family is losing their Christmas spirit. Her grandmother tells her to think like an elf, and find ways to help the people around her. She finds little things to do to serve others, and discovers that the Christmas spirit is not in the gifts you receive, but in showing others you care.

This is such a cute book! Clarice Bean is such a funny little kid. She has her own perspective on things and I love all her little quirks.
The story is full of holiday cheer, and I loved hearing about all the family traditions that Clarice Bean celebrated with her family. It got me into the holiday spirit!
The writing does such a good job of letting us see things from Clarice Bean's perspective, and it really captures her childish voice.

There are many funny scenes where things go terribly wrong and it is hilarious! They get a huge tree that is way too big for their house. The turkey is accidentally dropped on the floor and then eaten by a mysterious dog or fox. Clarice Bean tries to make fudge, but it is a hazardous undertaking. This whole book is so funny!

I don't like the weird art style though. It's a mixture of different things, and it looks kind of chaotic. I wish they would just stick to one style instead of mixing different elements that don't really match. But that's just my personal preference.


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

[lesemama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zum Buch:

Clarice Bean lebt mir ihren Geschwistern, Ohren Eltern und ihrem Opa zusammen. Sie freut sich sehr auf Weihnachten und ihr liebste Weihnachtslied ist "Zwölf Tage Weihnachten".
Clarice weiß, es ist Weihnachten, wenn die Wichtelgeschirrtücher ausgepackt werden und die Weihnachtskarten eintrudeln. Aber dieses Jahr wollen ihre Eltern nur zu siebt feiern, denn, wenn sie schon an die ganze Arbeit denken, wird ihnen ganz anders. Und dann beginnt das Weihnachtschaos, das ganz anders endet als gedacht ...

Meine Meinung:

Ich liebe Weihnachten, auch wenn es, wenn wir ehrlich sind, jedesmal ein wenig in Stress ausartet. Und ich liebe Weihnachtsbücher. Bei diesem hatte ich mich sofort in das Cover verguckt und wollte es lesen.
Die Geschichte ist herrlich chaotisch und wunderbar authentisch. Es macht einfach Spaß der Familie Tuesday zu folgen. Es klappt nicht alles wie geplant, aber am Ende ist es doch der Geist der Weihnacht, der alles zusammenhält.

Die Geschichte ist schön zu lesen, die Aufmachung fand ich besonders. Mal ist es illustriert, mal sind es Fotos die das Gelesene sehr gut unterstützen. Der Text ist unterschiedlich groß geschrieben, was das ganze lebendiger macht. Die Botschaft, die hinter der Geschichte steckt, ist sehr einfach zu verstehen. Haltet zusammen und lasst den Geist der Weihnacht zu und alles wird genauso wie man (Clarice) es sich wünscht.
Ein absolut empfehlenswertes Kinderbuch zumVorlesen und zum Selberlesen.

[Karen M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this as a gift - but read it as I wanted to check its suitability ( and make sure there were no Christmas spoilers). I’m happy to report that not only was it entirely suitable I found myself laughing out loud at some of the perfectly painted family moments - and very pleased by the happy ending. The Christmas tree was a particular star! As was the calculating of exactly how many potatoes would be needed for Clarice’s perfect Christmas … oh and the turkey … and so many other beautifully crafted moments.
All the characters and dialogue are well judged and it’s a perfect read aloud in the run up to Christmas as it simply sparkles with humour and kindness ( even if , as in real life, sometimes the kindness leads to a very different conclusion than may have been expected).
I loved it and I hope to be able to gift more of these books in the future - call me old fashioned but it’s lovely to read a book packed with happiness and caring which doesn’t make your toes curl ,where there’s still a believable dollop of real family life , and which is immensely readable. Simply lovely. It’s made my Christmas a little shinier.

[Nanny Miss Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s time to take a trip back to Navarino Street (number 7), to join the Tuesday family for the holidays! The curiously clever preteen is back for “Clarice Bean: Think Like an Elf” for an all new Christmas tale for the ages. With a houseful of 7, one can only imagine how it feels to be a 12-year old girl around such a busy time of year, along with the pressures of school, and all the hopes, dreams, and wishes leading up to that fateful morning.

Clarice is on a mission to keep the holiday spirit alive, and she’ll need to rally around her friends and family to do it. The brilliant Laurne Child continues her streak of modern literary classics. Ms. Bean’s hilarious hijinks and misadventures, coupled with the nostalgic tidings of Christmas tradition will warm your family’s heart and remind you that if all else fails, you’ve still got each other.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a special treat it is to read this sumptuous book right on Christmas time! The hardcover version - beautifully produced pages, fonts and illustrations - is a package of delight. Young Clarice shares her every thought on the angst and antics of Christmas with 3 siblings: Kurt, Marcie and little Minal Cricket - plus Clarice herself, her exhausted but loving parents, dear Grandad and Clement the Dog. Clarice already knows that family and friends truly make Christmas - but it doesn't hurt to make several copies of wish-list letters to Father Christmas (even if Marcie does say, 'You'll be lucky'). Just when Christmas stress seems at its most overwhelming, the love and joy of family and friends saves the day.
The wonderful words and illustrations are beautifully sweet and a balm for the spirit. Bravo Lauren Child!

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mummy read this to me and it was really funny and I loved it! I think Clarice Bean is a brilliant character and in this story she wants to make sure that the Christmas spirit is everywhere so she does lots of kind things to make it happen. Some of her attempts go wrong, like she posts two parcels for her mum but muddles up the address labels and ends up sending her Granny’s gifts to Mr Felixstow! Her Granny is a really good character too because she has lots of wisdom and helps Clarice with good advice. It was a really good book to read at Christmas because the story is about family and friends. Clarice doesn’t have a lot of money to buy presents so she makes fudge for everyone and does a kind deed for her friend Karl which makes him really happy. She also makes all her own cards for people and I think I’d like to do this too. You will definitely love this book if you read it!

[Katy Wheatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas is coming but it won't be the same this year. Everyone is scattering to different places and Clarice is afraid that the spirit of Christmas will be lost. She sets herself the task of creating all her Christmas cards and presents on a budget, working out how to get the postage money she needs for Betty Moody's gift and keeping the family Christmas Spirit alive. It's a tall order and Clarice doesn't always get it right. It's not easy when Minal Cricket's obsession with foxes is so annoying and Betty is going to Japan for Christmas. Will she succeed? It's no spoiler to say that good and rightness and proper Christmas cheer triumph in the end. This is funny and charming and properly festive and heartwarming.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was very cute and sweet. It really had the "Christmas spirit" about it, in a cheerful and warmhearted way (not the "get a box of tissues and sob" way that I really needed to avoid this holiday season) and I thought parts were quite funny and clever. It wasn't a five star book but one that I thoroughly enjoyed and wouldn't mind picking up again in future years. I've been a Lauren Child fan since the days when I discovered the Charlie and Lola show (yes, I admit, I watched it before I even had kids -- it just made me smile!) but I'd not read any of the Clarice Bean novels. I'm so glad I stumbled across this and had Clarice Bean to help me smile this holiday season.

[Bianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

✍️ This is the jovial story of lovely Clarice Bean and her Family and her quest to spreading the joy of Christmas around.

This was the first Clarice Bean book I read and I simply ADORED it! The story was brimming with a myriad of Christmas Spirit, laughter and elation. The illustrations and the writing style were acutely creative, unique and playful and I enjoyed the different style fonts and sizes. Very enthusiastic and articulate. A delightful story to read this time of the year about the wonder of Christmas and with an added special message of hope, compassion and humankind.

[Melanie Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read!! I read it with my son each night. It is a great read in the lead up to Christmas.

There were many laughs had whilst reading Think Like an Elf, especially when the family go to buy a tree (without mum).

The book itself is beautiful. My son loved the illustrations just as much as the story. They are absolutely beautiful. What a talented lady, Lauren Child is. To be able to write and illustrate her own books. We are now Clarice Bean fans.

Thank you Harper Collins Kids Australia ♥♥

Www.instagram.com/chapter_ichi

[Jenni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clarice Bean is having a difficult holiday season. Things are changing and the holiday is going to be different. Clarice must do her best to create a festive attitude and bring her family back together to celebrate Christmas in only the way that she can. This is a great addition to the Clarice Bean collection of books and offers a holiday update on what is going on in the family. I would encourage its purchase for those libraries that are fans of Clarice and her family. This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t usually read books way out of season, but I had to read this when I found out about it yesterday.
Something very cozy and comforting about reading a Christmas book in May. Maybe because I usually enjoy Christmas, but the baby had the flu a few days later.
This is a gorgeous book, beautiful illustrations, a charming story. Clarice Bean is a modern British Ramona with family members as chaotic as she is. This book is full of Christmas spirit and not everything is a hilarious disaster, some things turn out very well and very sweetly.