Elf on a Shelf?

[Leslie]

Has anyone done Elf on a shelf? I have heard kids really love it.

For those of you would don't know, it is a book and an Elf and you move the Elf around so that the kids have to find him.

I want to start some traditions of my own and thought this was a good one.

Anyone?

[Kathryn, The Princess of Picture-Books]

It sounds very cute!!! :-)

[Cheryl, Host of Miscellaneous and Newbery Clubs]

I went to the website, and I have to say, I'm not impressed. None of my children (now ages 14-25) would've liked it. It's a gimmick to make you buy something, more than anything.

However - if you like the idea, find an elf ornament, or paper doll from a printout jpg or a saved Christmas card from last year, or a stuffed elf from a thrift store, or make one... and use that. Make up your own version of the story, and tell it out loud. My kids always liked the simpler, from the heart traditions.

Lots of families like a reusable advent calendar. It helps the children learn to count down and be patient. Yes there are cheap ones you can get at markets, but a decent reusable one adds to the idea of the tradition.

If you can do other crafty things like spread peanut butter on pine cones for the birds, or string popcorn or cranberries for tree garlands, the children would have fun and learn to be more resourceful than going out and buying stuff.

And a good book stands alone. I don't like product tie-ins, in general. But that's me.

[Cheryl, Host of Miscellaneous and Newbery Clubs]

Some books we liked are:

Apple Tree Christmas

Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy

Trouble with Trolls and others by Jan Brett

[Kathryn, The Princess of Picture-Books]

We have a discussion thread devoted to Christmas books if you'd like to browse there, too :-)

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...