The Elf on the Shelf: Meet the Scout Elves

K-Gr 2–Elf on the Shelf has become ubiquitous during the Christmas season. This “I Can Read” title introduces new readers to the four different Scout Elves, two female and two male, both light- and dark-skinned. With one to four sentences per page, readers learn how to treat their elves. Don’t worry if they don’t move for a day: “When an elf is on the job, they do not move! It is what makes them such good reporting Scout Elves.” Don’t touch them: “If your Scout Elf is accidentally touched, they may lose their magic.” Readers also learn what scout elves do while visiting from the North Pole, including making themselves at home and hiding and sneaking behind presents. This book serves as a nice introduction to the Elf on the Shelf tradition, but its target audience may end up reading with a caregiver since the words and sentences are fairly complicated and best for more practiced readers.