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Littlest
The Littlest Elf by Brandi Dougherty
A sweet holiday story from a New York Times bestselling duo!From the New York Times bestselling team that brought us The Littlest Pilgrim comes a sweet new holiday follow-up filled with Christmas cheer and adorable stickers!Oliver may be the littlest elf in the North Pole, but he has a big desire to discover his very special job in Santa's workshop! But after getting lost in the toy shop, making a mess at the book shop, and falling in the mixing machine at the bakery, is the littlest elf just too little?Perhaps he just needs the littlest reindeer to remind him what Christmas is all about!
Unknown Binding
First published September 1, 2012
15 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 8, 2021
I picked this book up at a bookstore for 50 cents. I had to get it because the idea of the smallest elf not being able to do anything because of his size, and finding his special purpose, sounded like such a good story.
It was neat how the elves had special jobs in Santa's workshops. Oliver went around to all of them to find that one. At the toy workshop with his mom he got lost in the stuffing trying to make teddy bears. He went to the bike shop where his dad worked, but the tools were too big for him to use. His dad suggested he go to the bakery with his brother.
Oliver fell into the pot of cookie dough while he stirred. His brother told him to go to the bookmaker's shop. His sister worked there, but he discovered the stack of papers were too tall for him to reach, and be spilled the ink everywhere.
Oliver was down because he was too little to do any of the jobs. But then he went to the reindeer barn where a baby was born. Dot wanted to fly Santa's sleigh, but she was too small to fly. Kindred spirits definitely shaped up.
Oliver wanted to make Dot feel better so he searched his pockets for a treat. Instead he had things from all of the shops he had visited. Together, they made ornaments, cards, and decorations for all the elves. Though he didn't have that much in his pockets... They were so cute sitting together, the little reindeer sitting on its butt with its leg out, holding down the ribbon while Oliver tied it.
They had a little sleigh which Dot pulled and they went around the village delivering their presents. Even Santa came to see what was going on. Santa looked very sweet as he stood there with his reindeer. Santa asked them to be his helpers because of their big hearts and Christmas cheer.
I wish we would have learned what being his important helpers meant. I wondered if that meant they would help him in the sleigh with the presents but I flipped the page and the story ended with them finding their special jobs, and a special friend.
It was neat how the elves had special jobs in Santa's workshops. Oliver went around to all of them to find that one. At the toy workshop with his mom he got lost in the stuffing trying to make teddy bears. He went to the bike shop where his dad worked, but the tools were too big for him to use. His dad suggested he go to the bakery with his brother.
Oliver fell into the pot of cookie dough while he stirred. His brother told him to go to the bookmaker's shop. His sister worked there, but he discovered the stack of papers were too tall for him to reach, and be spilled the ink everywhere.
Oliver was down because he was too little to do any of the jobs. But then he went to the reindeer barn where a baby was born. Dot wanted to fly Santa's sleigh, but she was too small to fly. Kindred spirits definitely shaped up.
Oliver wanted to make Dot feel better so he searched his pockets for a treat. Instead he had things from all of the shops he had visited. Together, they made ornaments, cards, and decorations for all the elves. Though he didn't have that much in his pockets... They were so cute sitting together, the little reindeer sitting on its butt with its leg out, holding down the ribbon while Oliver tied it.
They had a little sleigh which Dot pulled and they went around the village delivering their presents. Even Santa came to see what was going on. Santa looked very sweet as he stood there with his reindeer. Santa asked them to be his helpers because of their big hearts and Christmas cheer.
I wish we would have learned what being his important helpers meant. I wondered if that meant they would help him in the sleigh with the presents but I flipped the page and the story ended with them finding their special jobs, and a special friend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2022
When it comes to board books with good engaging stories, this one is excellent. I liked the fact that I couldn't immediately predict the outcome, and yet it flowed so well.
February 8, 2017
Interesting view, an elf finding a job.
He tried the teddy bear workshop with his mom, the bicycle workshop with his dad, but the tools were too big.
I love how they're saying he's too small but they're not much bigger! And he's only a kid.
He tries the bakery with his brother, and the bookshop with his sister. I was wondering how many other siblings they were going to pull out of the hat.
The littlest reindeer shows up, and it makes sense for them to team up. Oliver finds trinkets The reindeer can pull the little sleigh
It's sweet how Santa recognized their big hearts and holiday cheer. & chose them to be his 'special helpers.' But it didn't explain what a special helper was.
And it ended on a note of
...I left that sentence hanging, so I have no idea what I was trying to say there. I had been reading in the car, and reviewing it on a Note when somebody hit my mom's car in the parking lot. no joke. I think I finished the book when I got home, so idk how I didn't finish the review!
He tried the teddy bear workshop with his mom, the bicycle workshop with his dad, but the tools were too big.
I love how they're saying he's too small but they're not much bigger! And he's only a kid.
He tries the bakery with his brother, and the bookshop with his sister. I was wondering how many other siblings they were going to pull out of the hat.
The littlest reindeer shows up, and it makes sense for them to team up. Oliver finds trinkets The reindeer can pull the little sleigh
It's sweet how Santa recognized their big hearts and holiday cheer. & chose them to be his 'special helpers.' But it didn't explain what a special helper was.
And it ended on a note of
...I left that sentence hanging, so I have no idea what I was trying to say there. I had been reading in the car, and reviewing it on a Note when somebody hit my mom's car in the parking lot. no joke. I think I finished the book when I got home, so idk how I didn't finish the review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2014
Dougherty, B. "The littlest elf". (2012). New York: Scholastic.
This is the story of the littlest elf, yearning to find his niche at the North Pole, but finding himself coming up short in everything he tries. He meets the littlest reindeer, and together the two friends create their own special job of making and delivering gifts to all the other elves. The story has a good moral...everyone is good at something, and don't give up until you find your talent.
This is the story of the littlest elf, yearning to find his niche at the North Pole, but finding himself coming up short in everything he tries. He meets the littlest reindeer, and together the two friends create their own special job of making and delivering gifts to all the other elves. The story has a good moral...everyone is good at something, and don't give up until you find your talent.
May 20, 2015
This is a sweet book on how even little ones can participate and do great things. It's not really groundbreaking or profound, the way Horton Hears a Who is, but the illustrations are cute and the story, if nothing new, is enjoyable.
January 10, 2015
This is a very sweet Christmas story about an Elf who wanted to help around the North Pole but was really too small to help very much. Instead he finds another way to help all of his friends. This is a really heartwarming story and a fun read with your child around the holidays.
December 8, 2015
A cute lttle book for the littles a Christmastime to show that everyone has something that they can contribute. The illustrations are sweet. The text is simple.
May 20, 2022
I picked up The Littlest Elf from my local Little Free Library and plan on starting a library for my aunt for her new grandchildren. I wanted to make sure I read each story first to make sure it's appropriate and a full book since the copies are mostly used copies.
The Littlest Elf stars Oliver - a tiny little elf trying to find his place at Santa's Workshop. Each elf has a special job and Oliver can't seem to fit in anywhere. Until...and I don't give away spoilers so let me just say this book is sweet and educational teaching kindness all throughout.
The Littlest Elf stars Oliver - a tiny little elf trying to find his place at Santa's Workshop. Each elf has a special job and Oliver can't seem to fit in anywhere. Until...and I don't give away spoilers so let me just say this book is sweet and educational teaching kindness all throughout.
December 6, 2017
In this book we meet a little elf who just wants to help Santa but is too small to do many of the tasks that he tries to do. In the end though he is recognized by Santa for his incredible spirit of giving and made a special helper, although it is never revealed what being a special helper even means. Other than this little tidbit I found the story to be a great way to talk about how everybody has a purpose.
December 13, 2022
Oliver is the littlest Elf. He is trying to find his place in Santa's workshop....but he is too little for everything he tries. Until he teams up with Dot, the littlest Reindeer and they provide a little magic of their own.
July 22, 2020
What an adorable story and book! The illustrations are so cute and lovely. They have such a nice soft color palette and are so adorable! I love the little elf and the little reindeer! So cute!
November 12, 2020
Very cute
December 29, 2020
This book came along as part of a Scholastic book set to count down to Christmas.
January 5, 2021
My younger Step sister received this cute book as a Christmas present from Santa this year and we decided to read it just the other night, absolutely magical! Such a cute little read!
January 21, 2022
This is so fun because they become best friends. I'm gonna give it 5 stars. Zee, 5
December 30, 2023
A short and sweet picture book that can be enjoyed by the kids it's aimed towards.
December 30, 2024
Endearing story, just doesn't align with the traditional Santa Claus cannon imo.
March 18, 2017
This is a good holiday story for toddlers.
Super cute, humorous illustrations. Nice story about the littlest elf, who is too little to help out in traditional ways, but who can still be helpful in his own way.
Super cute, humorous illustrations. Nice story about the littlest elf, who is too little to help out in traditional ways, but who can still be helpful in his own way.
August 6, 2025
The Littlest Elf is a sweet and festive holiday story perfect for young readers, especially around Christmastime. It follows the journey of Oliver, an enthusiastic little elf with a big heart who wants to find the perfect job at the North Pole. However, because of his small size, he struggles to fit in with the other elves’ tasks, whether it's toy-making, baking, or wrapping gifts.
What makes this story shine is its cheerful message about perseverance, self-worth, and finding where you truly belong. Even when things don’t go Oliver’s way, he doesn’t give up. Eventually, he discovers that being small isn’t a weakness, it’s what makes him special.
The illustrations by Kirsten Richards are bright, colorful, and whimsical, adding charm and warmth to every page. Kids will love spotting the tiny elf among the hustle and bustle of the North Pole.
Cute, heartwarming, and full of holiday cheer, this is a great seasonal read for toddlers and preschoolers. A lovely reminder that there's a place for everyone—no matter how small.
What makes this story shine is its cheerful message about perseverance, self-worth, and finding where you truly belong. Even when things don’t go Oliver’s way, he doesn’t give up. Eventually, he discovers that being small isn’t a weakness, it’s what makes him special.
The illustrations by Kirsten Richards are bright, colorful, and whimsical, adding charm and warmth to every page. Kids will love spotting the tiny elf among the hustle and bustle of the North Pole.
Cute, heartwarming, and full of holiday cheer, this is a great seasonal read for toddlers and preschoolers. A lovely reminder that there's a place for everyone—no matter how small.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2017
It's time for Oliver, the littlest elf, to find his job in Santa's workshop. He tries the different jobs, but it seems he is too little for everything... except for spreading Christmas cheer.
A cute and silly Christmas story.
A cute and silly Christmas story.
December 17, 2012
read this to my daughter cute book got this for her for 2 dollars in the scholastic book order
December 24, 2023
It was cute. The illustrations are really quite adorable (especially Dot, the little reindeer)
December 24, 2016
What a cute story about a little elf that works hard to find his place in the elf world. I enjoy the message -- never give up; find your special talent -- told through this story.
January 10, 2013
Fabulous pictures!
December 1, 2015
Takes place at the North Pole.
November 24, 2018
Short and sweet, festive and simple.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews