So as everyone else, I want and need traditions for my daughter to grow up with. Since I have begun to see these elves everywhere and by elves I do not mean this product. I see the "elf on the shelf" I didn't run in to Christopher and Christina until I moved to north pole Alaska and the only large elf they had was Christopher and Christina so before making an instant purchase I came home and decided to do some homework. Come to find out Christopher was the original ELF. I will no longer follow the crowd of people supporting the copied elf. It's almost ridiculous how someone's idea can be copied as closely as it has. so my daughter will be receiving Christopher and until she's old enough to appreciate it mom and dad will be enjoying him :) I love the book as well it's simple and has a page in the end to sign it to someone which also makes it a cute keepsake. It is also perfect sized but it was kind of a pain to remove it from the box I mean after you cut the strings you can flip it over so that is fine and the box is perfect for being able to store the elf and book for later. Definitely recommend this product for your family choice especially instead of the elf on the shelf and there is also more than just this one there are additional books and characters.