THE NORTH POLE — The hardest part of welcoming The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition® into your house for the holiday is saying goodbye after Christmas and having to wait a whole year to see your tiny friend again. And, for little hands that love to explore through touch, the rule about “never touching your elf” (or it’ll lose its magic) can be pretty hard, too. Not anymore.
The creators of The Elf on the Shelf are introducing The Elf on the Shelf Plushee Pals™ — elf friends children can play with all year long. Plushee Pals are plush versions of their REAL scout elf counterparts and made of the softest material Santa’s toymakers could find.
“Santa knows how much children miss their elves when they head back to the North Pole with him on Christmas Eve, so he created these lovable plush versions to comfort children and keep them company year round,” explains Chanda Bell, co-author of The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition. “Whenever Santa visits a store, he leaves these huggable elves behind as a cozy reminder of his hard-working crew.”
Available in both light and dark skin tones, brown or black hair, and blue or brown eyes, these especially squeezable imps come in two sizes, 19 inches ($12.50) and 32 inches ($25). With their long eyelashes, warm smiles and baby-blanket-
Couture for the Fashion-Conscious Elf
Also new for the 2009 season is a little something for the fashion conscious. As a special favor to the female members of his legendary scout elves, Santa – with Mrs. Claus’ encouragement – has finally created a way to dress up that work uniform.
Say hello to the very first piece from the Claus Couture Collection™, an ice-white, pleated skirt embroidered with holly berry red snowflakes. The year’s “must-have”
Youngsters simply place the skirt where their elf can see it, and she’ll slip it over her work togs before heading back to the North Pole for her nightly report to Santa. One size fits all original pixie elves, no matter how much on-the-job snacking they may do.
About The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition
The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition was written by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell, both former teachers. Beautifully illustrated by award-winning illustrator Coë Steinwart, the book answers the age-old question, “How does Santa really know who’s been naughty or nice?” The Elf on the Shelf is based on an old tradition Aebersold began with her children when they were young. Here's how it works: Sometime during the holiday season, Santa sends a scout elf to each home to watch over the children's behavior. The elf gets its Christmas magic when the family gives it a name of its own. Each night, after the children are safely tucked into bed, the elf flies to the North Pole where it reports to Santa who has been nice or naughty that day. Before the children awaken, the elf has returned to their home but is observing them from a new post in the house. The children race out of bed to discover the elf's new hangout for the day. There is one important rule: children should not touch the elf or it might lose its magic, thus jeopardizing any good reports the elf may have planned to give to Santa. This rule ensures the children’s interest in the elf won’t wane and it also teaches self-control.
For $29.95, this hardbound book is creatively packaged and comes with its own pixie-elf seated on a shelf in an attractive keepsake box. Children can register their elf’s name at www.elfontheshelf.com and receive a special letter from Santa Claus. In addition to the award-winning, interactive North Pole Web site, the company offers The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Activity Book™. The activity book helps keep little hands and minds busy with games, puzzles, crafts, a sing-a-long music CD, coloring pages and more. To find an “elf adoption center” near you, purchase online or learn more, visit www.elfontheshelf.com.
