The Elf on the Shelf is a popular children's book that comes with a real elf from the North Pole. A family can adopt an elf for about $30.00 from elfontheshelf.com or through local storefronts. It is said that Santa had to send the elves to the stores because not all families want an elf or celebrate Christmas and he had to make sure the elves went to famlies who wanted them. Cute story, written in rhyme, by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell. They must know Santa very well.