chanda bell made up the elf on the shelf.
who made up the elf on the shelf?
chanda bell
the elf on the shelf: a christmas tradition is a 2005 children's picture book, written by carol aebersold and her daughter chanda bell, and illustrated by coë steinwart. 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. the authors say the story is based on a family tradition started by carol aebersold for her twin daughters, chanda bell and christa pitts in georgia, usa.
the elf on the shelf
in october 2013, "the elf on the shelf: a birthday tradition" was released. written and illustrated by the same team that created the first book, it offers instructions for inviting a scout elf to visit for a child's birthday party and describes how the elf decorates a chair for the child. in april 2014, two supplemental birthday products were released: the elf on the shelf birthday countdown game and the elf on the shelf birthday chair decoration kit.
the elf on the shelf