We’re stressed! We all need to rest
We keep getting tangled in tape.
Oh it just isn’t fair! All toys should be square!
But here comes another weird shape!

Join the Christmas chaos in this flap-filled festive adventure!

It’s Christmas Eve but all is not well in Santa’s workshop . . . The toy-building elves are exhausted, the gift-wrappers are tangled in tape and the reindeer-wranglers are ready to strike! Will Christmas be cancelled, or can one elf’s quick thinking and festive spirit save the day? Lift the flaps to discover every corner of the workshop, from the reindeer stables to the wrapping room. Children will love this engaging, inventive story, and parents may well empathise with the stressed, overworked elves!

This funny, festive book full of flaps pairs humorous text by Nicola Edwards with charming illustrations by Pauline Gregory to capture the essence of a chaotic Christmas. But between the stress and all the mess, have the elves forgotten what Christmas is really about?

Elves on Strike by Nicola Edwards is a children’s picture/lift-the-flaps book. As you might have imagined from the title, Santa’s elves have gone on strike. They are tired of many things including grumpy reindeer and toys that are weird shapes and make them difficult to wrap.

The story is good fun and the pages are filled with bold, bright, and colourful illustrations that will capture children’s attention and make them feel all festive.

The text rhymes at times and with just a few words on each page, the book would be perfect for new readers. The lift-the-flaps are quite flimsy though and if not handled with care I can see these being ripped, so this book wouldn’t be any good for very young readers who need more sturdy doors.

Overall, Elves on Strike is a book that will have youngsters laughing and hoping that the elves get back to work before Christmas is cancelled.

Nicola was raised by the seaside in beautiful Brighton. She loves reading, dancing, rhyming and turquoise things. She now lives with her husband and son in East London and spends her days writing and editing children’s books. She has been nominated for the UKLA 2019 award.