The Elf on the Shelf worked miracles with our granddaughter who was sure that the Elf was watching over her and reporting to Santa. She is 8 and still a believer.  But to our grandson who is four, he just didn't warm to the idea of a miniature elf reporting back to Santa about his behavoir!  The book is lovely and both grandchildren loved it. It was also fun for our daughter and son-in-law to find a new place to put the Elf each night! I would recommend this elf and book to anyone who has children or grandchildren who still believe in Santa. It may not make every child a lot better behaved but it is a lot of fun for them to try to find the Elf and wonder how it got to its new location each day.  This is also an item that can be handed down from generation to generation which is another reason why we wanted to purchase it.  By telling the children not to handle the Elf or it will lose its powers is a good way to keep the Elf in great condition. The set arrived very quickly after ordering which was a big plus as we ordered it in December.