what is elf on shelf

The Elf on the Shelf is a Christmas tradition created by Carol Aebersold and her daughters Chanda Bell and Christa Pitts. It is a children's book that tells the story of a scout elf who watches over children and reports back to Santa every night to report any naughty or nice behavior. The Elf on the Shelf is a cute and playful way to encourage children to behave well leading up to Christmas.