We love Christmas books and activities in our house! Last year we did an ABC Your Way to Christmas. We read 26 books and completed 26 family activities to go along with each book.
This year, we will be introducing Elf on the Shelf for the first time! I thought we would combine this new tradition with our love for books.
So, our Elf on the Shelf will be reading lots of books! Yes, each morning my boys will find our Elf in some mischief enjoying a great holiday read. Would you like to join us? Here are all the details of our Elf on the Shelf Reads Books Project.
We plan to debut our Elf on the Shelf on November 30th. We will start by reading the book that comes with the Elf and naming our little guy. On December 1st, my boys will find the Elf for the first time. He will display a note that will read:
Each day I will be sharing a book with you that I had fun reading during the night. Some of the books I’ll get from your library so you’ll need to return them for me please. Other books that I bring from the North Pole are yours to keep! Happy Reading!
A different book and Elf scene will be displayed each day through Christmas Eve.
Here are the books we plan to showcase for the month. I’ve also included the mischief that we have planned for the Elf.
Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Holiday Books and Scene Ideas for Elf on the Shelf
Book: Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson
Scene: Elf will have a picnic with our stuffed animals. 
Book: An Otis Christmas by Loren Long
Scene: Elf playing in our toy barn with the tractors. 
Book: The Polar Express by Van Alsburg
Scene: Elf hanging out on our train table. 
Book: What Dogs Want for Christmas by Radzinski
Scene: Elf hanging out with our stuffed animal dog enjoying a doggy treat. 
Book: The Sweet Smell of Christmas by Patricia Scarry
Scene: Elf sniffing the sweet smell of candy canes. 
Book: Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas by Jane O’Connor
Scene: Elf surrounded by fancy word cards (words from the story: aroma, compromise, heirlooms, delectable, and caroling) for us to discuss for the day. 
Book: Jingle Bells by Jeffrey Ebbeler
Scene: Elf hanging out with some bells.
Book: Mrs. Santa Claus by Penny Ives
Scene: Elf riding a bike just like Mrs. Santa does in the book. 
Book: Pete the Cat Saves Christmas by Litwin and Dean
Scene: Elf hanging out in a toy bus on the shelf.
Book: What is Christmas by Michelle Medlock Adams
Scene: Elf looking at symbols of the season. 
Book: Santa’s Book of Names by McPhail
Scene: Elf writing letters or names in fake snow. 
Book: Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Barry
Scene: Elf hanging out in the Christmas tree. 
Book: Snowmen at Christmas by Buehner
Scene: Elf will have made snowmen out of marshmallows. 
Book: Shhh! by Julie Skyes
Scene: Elf in the fireplace with soot on his nose. 
Book: The Legend of the Poinsettia by DePaola
Scene: Elf hanging out in a poinsettia plant. 
Book: Clifford’s Christmas Presents by Sonali Fry
Scene: Elf hanging outside my son’s door wrapped as a present. 
Book: The Story of Christmas by Patricia Pingry
Scene: Elf overlooking the manager in our nativity scene. 
Book: The Christmas Quiet Book by Underwood
Scene: Elf will be laying on a blanket near the Christmas tree. 
Book: Rock Star Santa by Krause
Scene: Elf playing our musical instruments. 
Book: Too Many Tamales by Soto
Scene: Elf getting messy in some masa. 
Book: A Fishmas Carol by Kearney
Scene: Elf enjoying a little holiday bath. 
Book: Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney
Scene: Elf will bring a countdown paper chain to count down the days until Christmas.
Book: The Christmas Wreath by Hoffman
Scene: Elf will be hanging out in a wreath. 
Book: The Night Before Christmas
We had a personalized copy made for our youngest son from My Chronicle Books.
Scene: Elf will be sitting next to the plate and cup that we leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve.
Follow the Elf on the Shelf Ideas Pinterest board full of elf ideas!
Laura says
So glad I found your site! I am running an Elf on the Shelf program at the library where I work, and have been trying to find more ideas incorporating books! So far, we have had him with Charlotte’s web and we made a web that said “Some Elf”; Sitting on a stuffed Paddington Bear with the Paddington book; and today he’s made a snowman out of cotton balls with the book The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.
Jodie Rodriguez says
Laura, I’m so glad you found Growing Book by Book too. I love the idea of doing Elf on the Shelf at the library. What great ideas you have come up with. I love the web idea for Charlotte’s Web. Super creative. I’d love to see pictures! Feel free to post on Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/growingbookbybook !
Carrie @ Crafty Moms Share says
What a great idea for the Elf on the Shelf! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!
Lorie says
What a clever idea! I never would have thought of combining elf on the shelf with Christmas books. I love it!
stephanie says
A wonderful collection of books! Thanks for sharing on the After School Linky.
Blayne says
So much awesomeness here!! I love the book suggestions and the elf inspiration. I cannot wait to try this next year! 🙂
Eva @ The Multitasking Mummy says
Thanks for these book ideas, I’m really looking forward to getting my son new Christmas books now that he’s into reading.
PramgaticMom says
Great list!!! Love your ideas.
Catherine says
Love this idea, so great to choose a new story each day. I’m going to look for a festive friend 2 introduce some new books to my daughter.
Barb @ A Life in Balance says
I love the pairing of Christmas books with the Elf on the Shelf. I pinned this to my new Elf on the Shelf Pinterest board.
Jodie Rodriguez says
Thanks so much Barb. I’m working on getting all the books in the house now so I’m ready!
Norah says
What a wonderful idea and such an exciting lead up to Christmas! I’m sure it will captivate your children.
Tracy says
I love this twist on the elf on the shelf, and I especially love your Christmas book suggestions! Soooo creative!
Natalie says
This is brilliant. My daughter is too old for Elf on the Shelf, but I LOVE your idea of combining it with books and making special scenes. Thanks for sharing with Afterschool!
Emma @ P is for Preschooler says
I love the twist you put on Elf on the Shelf, to add a book a day into the mix! And the scenarios you’ve come up with for each are so cute – I love that Elf will be wrapped as a present and be building snowmen from marshmallows! lol!
Terri says
I think this is absolutely my favorite elf on the shelf idea! I love book idea. This may actually convince me to get our own elf!
OneMommy says
Love that you are pairing it up with a cute Christmas book each day!
Georgina @ Craftulate says
Some wonderful book ideas here – thank you!
JDaniel4's Mom says
I love your book tie-ins! What fun! I will be sharing this post on the Read.Explore.Learn. Facebook page.
Jodie Rodriguez says
Thank you so much for sharing! I think we will have such a fun time with our little elf!
Amanda@ Dirt and Boogers says
I love these ideas and you’ve given some really good book suggestions. I need to add to our Christmas book collection! Thanks for sharing my post too…it was a fun little surprise for me!
Jodie Rodriguez says
You are so welcome Amanda! Thanks so much for sharing the book and discount code with me. I can’t wait to get ours in the mail!
Maria says
Thanks for these great ideas! We just got the Elf on the Shelf for a gift last year, so I could use some good ideas to go with it! I think Snowmen at Christmas is one of my most favourite Christmas books -such cozy illustrations!
Jodie Rodriguez says
Maria, I love the illustrations in Snowmen at Christmas too. Cozy is a perfect word to describe them! Good luck with your Elf on the Shelf this year.