Five little elves by Dan Yaccarino

HarperFestival, 2016. ISBN 9780062253385
Five little elves sitting on a sled,
The first one said, "Where's the man in red?"
With the concept of Elf on a Shelf gaining such ground in the homes of those with little people - the perfect spy for Santa - this timely release of this traditional rhyme in board book format is a perfect addition to the Christmas stocking of the very young. With its rhyme and rhythm and bold, bright illustrations it is definitely one for sharing over and over, helping even the tiniest ones start to learn the nuances of our language and the joy of story. At the same time, being a board book, it is sturdy enough to be placed in those tiny hands and survive the explorations that they and teeth will make.
Board books are an ideal way to introduce children to the love of reading as having heard the story in a safe, loving relationship, their format allows them to be handled and sucked and chewed as the little one begins to exercise their own power over the story. Even though they might not yet be able to read the words for themselves, may even be too young to join familiar rhymes and stories, being able to handle and manipulate the book itself is a huge step in that early reading journey.
Barbara Braxton