How to Catch an Elf

by Adam Wallace, Andy Elkerton (Illustrator)

Overview

A New York Times and USA Today Bestseller!

"With delightful rhymes, How to Catch an Elf slots itself into place along such classics as "The Night Before Christmas."—Foreword Reviews

You've been waiting all year long, and now it's finally Christmas Eve! Is this the year you'll finally catch an elf? Start a new Christmas tradition with this hilarious children's book from the creators of the New York Times best-seller How to Catch a Leprechaun!

"It's Christmas Eve! Hip hip, hooray!
Yes, Santa's coming 'round.
He's bringing toys to girls and boys in every house in town."

"Some kids have tried to catch him,
but Santa's fast, you see!
So they've set their eyes on a smaller prize,
and now they're after me!"

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781492646310
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	10/04/2016
Series:	How to Catch...
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)
Lexile:	AD540L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Adam Wallace is a children's writer and cartoonist living in Australia. He is the author of How to Catch a Leprechaun, How to Catch the Easter Bunny, and How to Catch the Tooth Fairy.

Andy Elkerton is a children's book illustrator based in the United Kingdom.

Editorial Reviews

09/26/2016
The team behind How to Catch a Leprechaun follows the efforts of several children—clearly ones who are destined for Santa’s naughty list—to capture one of Santa’s elves. Mischievous readers will likely enjoy watching the tiny elf attempt to escape traps that include a tinsel net, a family cat, and (somewhat disturbingly) sticks of dynamite nestled in a pile of chocolates, as well as a cowboy tree ornament wielding an electric brand. Why all the threats of violence against someone who’s part of Santa’s gift-delivery operation? It’s never really clear, and before long Santa and the elf are narrowly escaping hams and cookies fired at them through a “Dinner Cannon,” coasting down a river of eggnog, and soaring across the sky on a pizza. Wallace’s rhymes and Elkerton’s in-your-face images hit their comedic marks, but the overall story is chaotic and confusing. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"With delightful rhymes, How to Catch an Elf slots itself into place along such classics as "The Night Before Christmas." Of course, there's some updated technology, such as the Elf Snatcher 3000. Its cute language is great for reading aloud and the pictures are sure to get a giggle. Daring escapes and goofy traps make the story great fun. With hijinks galore, kids may just come up with some new ways to capture Santa's little helper" - Foreword Reviews

From the Publisher

In this picture book, one of Santa’s elves shares the ways that some children set up traps to capture Santa. Bright and bold colors illustrate the various traps and the ways that Santa’s elf, dressed in lime green with red and white striped stockings, escapes them. The elf glides passed the tinsel net that is set to ensnare him with a large yellow present carried over his head. He notices the candy cane trap with a large feline ready to pounce. Santa’s helper must disengage the chocolate bonbon explosive. The clever elf avoids the Christmas maze and barely misses a zap from the cowboy ornament. Even during Santa’s delivery at the family supermarket, Santa and his elf narrowly miss the gigantic food trap of tumbling edibles and cannon blasted produce, meats, and sweet treats. Nonetheless, the pair helps each other escape the various traps and deliver the presents to the children for Christmas. This story is more about the escapes from the different traps set to capture Santa and his elf, but children may enjoy the rhythm and rhyme of the verse in this comical Christmas Eve adventure. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung; Ages 4 to 7.

Children's Literature - Carrie Hane Hung