Speaking Volumes

Alright, if the Barbie with the video camera was not your cup of tea, here's another hot toy to consider. The Elf on the Shelf is selling like hotcakes. It's an elf, it's a book, it's a kit and it sells for $30.

The brainchild of Carol Aebersold who runs the company with her twin daughters, got started from a Christmas tradition she shared for many years with her family. Ms. Aebersold would hide the red bedecked plastic elf, n her home several days before Christmas. The elf kept watch on her kids and knew who was naughty and who was nice. Then the elf would fly off to the North Pole and make his report to Santa. Word of mouth, turned this family tradition into a multi-million dollar business. Now, why didn't I think of that!

What once was an Atlanta area only toy, has now made it's way to the top ten on the USA Today's Best-Selling Books. Though there is a book as part of the kit and it is sold at Barnes and Noble, I think of it as more of a toy. You can buy the elf in a light skinned or dark skinned version, with different colored eyes, different outfits, and there's even a way to change the gender of your elf from male to female if you wish. After getting your elf, give it a name and register it on the company website. 

Sounds like a fun new holiday tradition to add in our family. My only regret is that I missed out getting one this Christmas but there's plenty of time to pick one up before next December.