Elf off the shelf book and doll

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The book tells a Christmas-themed story, written in rhyme, that explains how Santa Claus knows who is naughty and nice. It describes elves visiting children from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve , after which they return to the North Pole until the next holiday season. The Elf on the Shelf comes in a keepsake box that features a hardbound picture book and a small scout elf. This 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.

The popular Christmas tradition involves a storybook and accompanying pixie elf figure. The elf then returns before the children wake up and settles in a new part of the house, creating a hide-and-seek game each morning. Scrolling through social media, you can find tweets and blog posts from parents lamenting , defending , mocking , condemning and outright bashing the holiday tradition. Pinterest is filled with both easy and elaborate Elf on the Shelf ideas. Along with Pitts, they launched their own company the following year to bring the story and tradition to other families across the country.