SANTA OFFERS VIRTUAL TRIP TO THE NORTH POLE WITH

SANTA OFFERS VIRTUAL TRIP TO TH E NORTH POLE W ITH
THE ELF ON THE SHELF ®
With Just a Click of the Mouse, Children Enter the Extraordinary World of
Santa’s Elves
THE NORTH POLE — Traveling to the North Pole can be a difficult and rather chilly journey, but
with The Elf on the Shelf’s 3-D interactive North Pole Web site, www.elfontheshelf.com, families
can head straight to Main Street and visit Santa’s wonderland.
In conjunction with the popular children’s book, The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition®, Santa
has asked his elves to take children on a magical tour of the North Pole through this award-winning
Web site. Children enter an extraordinary world that, until recently, has been the stuff of legends.
“For centuries, children have wondered and imagined what the North Pole is like,” explains Carol
Aebersold, co-author of The Elf on the Shelf. “In this day and age, kids are so hi-tech and we now
have the technology to give them a window into Santa’s world.”
With the help of an elf guide, children can choose which area of the North Pole village they want to
explore. Some of the locations Santa has opened to visitors include:
•
Santa’s Workshop, where visitors can build an elf-sized table, make an Elf on the Shelf clock,
play elf hide and seek or color Santa and his elves.
•
The Reindeer Stables. Here children can check in on Rudolph and his friends, color Santa’s
sleigh, create an ornament and gumdrop tree or learn how to make reindeer food.
•
Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen. If you are hungry, this is the place to visit. Mrs. Claus shares some of
Santa’s favorite recipes from her cookbook including Santa’s secret hot chocolate. Visitors
can also decorate a Christmas cookie for Saint Nick or print out the cookie and share it with
mom and dad.
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•
The Town Square. Also known as the North Pole’s Main Street, stop by the Christmas tree in
the town square to make your own gift tags, help decorate the giant tree, test your knowledge
with a quiz on decorations from around the world and even watch a special video.
•
The Hall of Registry. It’s here that visitors from around the world can register and name their
own elf, learn the top 10 elf names, ask an elf a question, quiz themselves on how well they
know their own elf’s personality, and even upload their favorite elf photos for Santa’s picture
wall.
•
The Elf Schoolhouse. Kids will go to the head of the class after they join the elves in the new
virtual schoolhouse. Launching October 2009, teachers will find activities including math and
language skill games and music for grades K-5 to integrate the holidays into their lessons.
Classrooms will also be able to register their elves’ names online and receive a special note
from Santa Claus.
Children of all ages will have fun throughout the holiday season with the dozens of interactive
games, puzzles, printable online coloring pages, recipes and fun facts available on the North Pole
Web site.
About The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition
The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition was written by Carol Aebersold and her daughter
Chanda Bell, both former teachers. Illustrated by award-winning illustrator Coë Steinwart, the book
answers the age-old question, “How does Santa really know who’s been naughty or nice?” The Elf
on the Shelf is based on an old tradition Aebersold began with her children when they were young.
Here’s how it works: Sometime during the holiday season, Santa sends a scout elf to each home
to watch over the children’s behavior. The elf gets its Christmas magic when the family gives it a
name of its own. Each night, after the children are safely tucked into bed, the elf flies to the North
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Pole where it reports to Santa who has been nice or naughty that day. Before the children awaken,
the elf has returned to their home but is observing them from a new post in the house. The children
race out of bed to discover the elf’s new location. There is one important rule: children should not
touch the elf or it might lose its magic and jeopardize any good reports the elf may have planned to
give to Santa.
For $29.95, this hardbound book is creatively packaged and comes with its own pixie-elf seated on
a shelf in an attractive keepsake box. Children can register their elf’s name at
www.elfontheshelf.com and receive a special letter from Santa Claus. In addition to the awardwinning, interactive North Pole Web site, the company offers The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas
Activity Book™. The activity book helps keep little hands and minds busy with games, puzzles,
crafts, a sing-a-long music CD, coloring pages and more. This year, the company introduced two
new products: Plushee Pals™, plush versions of their REAL scout elf counterparts, made of the
softest material Santa’s toymakers could find, and the very first piece from the Claus Couture
Collection™, an ice-white, pleated skirt embroidered with holly berry red snowflakes.
To find an “elf adoption center” near you, purchase online or learn more, visit
www.elfontheshelf.com.
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Media C o ntac ts:
Claudia D’Avanzo, 404.374.5893
claudia@elfontheshelf.com
Nancy McCardel, 770.363.3721
nancy@elfontheshelf.com
Key Words:
The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition, Elf on the Shelf, Interactive North Pole Web Site, Carol Aebersold, Chanda
Bell, Holiday Gift Ideas, Children’s Holiday Books, Family Holiday Traditions, Holiday Web Sites, Interactive Games
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