Elphland The Story of Santa’s Elves by B. F. Parajon (review)

For generations, children have been told the story of the jolly fat man named Santa Claus who on every Christmas Eve loads up his sleigh with toys, and with the help of his magical flying reindeer, delivers them to all the deserving boys and girls all over the world. But very little has ever been written about Santa’s partners in Christmas gift-giving: the Elves who lovingly and unselfishly busy themselves the remaining 364 days of the year building those wonderful gifts. What are their names? Where did they come from? How did they come to join Santa at the North Pole? Why are they such good toy builders? Why do they do it? Elphland–The Story of Santa’s Elves answers those and many other questions . . . and in so doing, explains the very origins of Santa Claus’ Christmas Eve gift-giving journey.

My Thoughts

Everyone has a “back story”. Read any book, watch any television show or movie and you’ll see there is always a “back story”. Heck, even you and I have a “back story”.

You might be wondering what is a “back story”? Well a back story is basically the story that sheds light on a person’s history, personality, mannerisms and character. Basically what or who made them who they are today. Now that you get the idea of what a back story is….have you ever wondered about elves? I mean what’s their back story? Where did come from? What do they like to help Santa? Do they really enjoy making toys and living in the cold? Ok…well, maybe you’ve never given them a thought but there is a good chance that your children have.

Elphland is a fun story that is great to read to or with your children during the Christmas season this year. One of the most endearing aspects about the story is the actual author’s story…he created Elphland as a way to engage his children and Christmas and keep the stories fresh for their imaginative mines. As I watch my husband make up stories for the girls…I can completely relate to this situation. Knowing that the story comes from a father’s heart endeared it to me from the beginning.

Elphland takes you on a journey with a wonderful family of elves that were forced to leave their home by their arch enemies. Along their way they discover wonders, adventures, friends, trials and eventually a new home. You’ll enjoy the vivid descriptions of the elves, their personalities and the scenarios they find themselves in. One of my faovrite scenes was when the elves’ hair turned from white to a beautiful color of rainbows.

There were parts of the book that I felt were a little too advanced for a young reader but if you read it to them you’ll be able to skim those areas and have them relate more to the characters. For example when the elves see the local town burning they realize that their enemies had burned down the house of their one and only “friend” in that village. This may be disturbing to a young child. My girls are eight so there was a lot of questions about why the elves did this and that or why their enemies disliked them.

Overall, it was a cute book with a fun premise that is rarely (if ever) touched upon. After all…at this time of year we are all concerned with the “Big Guy” not really the little guys.

So score one for the little guy and pick up a copy of Elphland!

The IE Mommy

Faith, Family, Fashion…Trying to Live to His Glory