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Elf

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Rediscover the laughter and cheer of Buddy the Elf in this adorable picture book for readers of all ages!
 
Buddy the Elf has more Christmas spirit than anyone, but he’s never quite fit in with the other elves at the North Pole. Then Buddy learns that he’s really a human—and his father is on the Naughty List! Determined to bring his dad some holiday cheer, he sets out for New York City. But when Santa encounters disaster on Christmas Eve, can Buddy count on his new family to help him save the day?

Kim Smith’s adorable illustrations give a nostalgic feel to this modern holiday tale. Featuring all the iconic moments and laugh-out-loud lines from the film, this story of infectious joy in the face of cynicism is a must-have for all ages.

40 pages, Paperback

Published October 12, 2020

13 people are currently reading
2307 people want to read

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Kim Smith

57 books122 followers

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5 stars
343 (56%)
4 stars
172 (28%)
3 stars
85 (13%)
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4 (<1%)
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5 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
Profile Image for Ken.
2,566 reviews1,377 followers
December 15, 2020
The every growing Pop Classics series continues to transform some of my favourite movies into adorable picturebooks.
The latest is the 2003 Will Ferrell festive hit that has become one of my traditional rewatches every Christmas.

The reason why these books have become so popular is the ability to capture the main essence of the film in some the various illustrations and simple dialogue.

If your a fan of the film then you'd be a cotton-headed ninny muggin not to ask Santa for this - proving your not on the naughty list!
Profile Image for Melina Souza.
357 reviews1,970 followers
November 29, 2020
Eu tô amando essa série de livros infantis adaptando filmes clássicos ♡

Elf é um dos filmes natalinos mais quentinho no coração e divertidos. Amo rever todos os anos e amei ler a história nesse formato com ilustrações lindas :)
Profile Image for Jade.
68 reviews23 followers
October 27, 2020
I absolutely love being able to read this book then watch the movie with my siblings for the holiday season. The book is just as entertaining as the movie and keeps everyone's interests. This book is about a baby that snuck into Santas sack while he was delivering presents to an orphanage without him noticing until arriving at the North Pole. Once there, an elder elf adopts his and names him Buddy treating him as his own and raising him as an elf. After many years, the elder elf decides it is time to tell Buddy about where he comes from and who his father is. We follow Buddy on his adventure to New York City to find his dad and the friends he makes on the way. Would recommend people to read this book with their kids and watching the movie after for a great holiday tradition.
Profile Image for Melissa Chung.
951 reviews321 followers
October 8, 2020
Just received the latest edition to the Pop Classics family from Quirk books for an honest review. I was told by Quirkbooks that this picture book was coming out and because Elf is one of my top Christmas movies, it's like top with Home Alone 1 & 2 (we ignore the others). So...when they told me I immediately said please send it my way and so they did.

If you haven't watched the movie....what are you waiting for? It's wholesome....it's fun....it's got Will Ferral in it. Need I say more? There's like a million paper snowflakes? Okay... It's the scene where Buddy jumps up and down and says I know him!!! Yes that movie! Well...here's the book version for your own elves.

Buddy our main character was just a wee baby living at an orphanage when Santa came to pay a visit. Little did Mr. Claus know when he packed up for the night that his bag weighed a little bit more than before. After Santa got back to the North Pole and his workshop, to celebrate another successful year, he realized he brought a stowaway. The human baby was cute and adorable and sweet, but no one wanted to volunteer to take him. Until.....Papa Elf who didn't have any children of his own, piped up and decided he should be the one to raise him. He called the baby Buddy. This is where the story gets interesting. You see Buddy is really too big for the Elf World and he is told a secret. That he really isn't an elf and that his real father lives in New York City and he can see him right now if he wanted to. So Buddy goes on a journey. He learns what it means to be apart of a family...well a human family and his humans they learn a bit more.

Such a cute Christmas tale of love and magic. If you like the movie definitely pick it up. If you haven't seen the movie....why? And lastly, if you need more Christmas stories on your kids shelves this one is perfect. I'm a little sad the "I know him" scene isn't in the book, but Kim couldn't draw the entire movie.

Thanks again Quirk books for sending this picture book my way.
Profile Image for Emily.
19 reviews
December 17, 2020
My family loves this book! It was my two year old’s introduction to Elf, and it quickly became his favorite. There are some direct quotes from the movie that we all take turns reading. If you’re not familiar with, or a fan of, the movie then you might not enjoy this book.
Profile Image for Jessie (Zombie_likes_cake).
1,479 reviews85 followers
December 26, 2023
Is it a bit pathetic to count this book for my yearly Goodreads challenge? Only if you take that challenge too serious. I like to have every book I read in that list, even if it's a 40 page picture book for children with maybe two sentences on each page.

I am obsessed with the movie which is not that interesting of a thing, just that I used to hate these kind of comedies and Will Farrell. But I guess I stopped taking myself so seriously and have some fun with film and not try to prove what a sophisticated person I am or something because now I often love these kind of silly films and "Elf" is maybe the highest on my personal list. I mean, when Buddy takes a jump to put the star on the tree, I am lying on the floor laughing for minutes. Every time. This might be pathetic, true, but it's a fact.

This was cute to flip through. Naturally, it has to leave out a lot and shorten events of a 90-minute movie to fit the book's tiny space. But I was positively surprised by how coherent this was as a story, I genuinely think you could read this without knowing anything about the movie and completely get it. While not enough of the humor makes it into these pages, there are some of the iconic original quotes ("you smell like beef and cheese", "you sit on a throne of lies"). The art style wasn't quite what I was hoping for but it was good enough.

I honestly don't know if this would be good for kids or why anyone would choose this over the movie, but I guess you could do that. But I grabbed it from the library after watching the movie again this Christmas season and it extended the simple joy I get from the movie by a tiny bit.
Profile Image for Charlotte.
209 reviews67 followers
November 14, 2020
Well this was bloody marvellous.

ELF Is a christmas film we sit and watch EVERY year, and with the dumpster fire 2020 has been I decided to buy this, and me and tom just sat and read it. Ill probably read it everyday until christmas.
Profile Image for Liesl.
1,932 reviews
April 1, 2021
This story makes for a wonderful children's book, and it was such fun to see so many iconic scenes and lines from the movie on its pages. Although the simplified plot doesn't have room for Miles Finch, I was tickled to see Buddy's pal from the mail room make an appearance.
Profile Image for Mateusz Śledzik.
43 reviews7 followers
March 3, 2024
Zaadaptować 90 minutowy film na 30-kilku stronnicową książkę dla dzieci zdecydowanie nie jest łatwą sztuką, ale w tym wypadku - wyszło naprawdę świetnie. Autorka musiała uprościć fabułę, więc część moich ulubionych gagów po prostu została pominięta (#smuteczek, ale fakt jest taki, że mimo przemycenia kilku najbardziej znanych kwestii, "LOL factor" ucierpiał), a dodatkowo został odrobinę zmodyfikowany koniec. Jednak to są jedyne dwa zarzuty, jakie mogę mieć - czyta się świetnie, można się pośmiać całą rodziną, a całość dopełnia naprawdę fajna, przyjazna kreska. Czytać z dziećmi (samemu również :)), nawet jeśli ktoś nie oglądał!

Ocena: 9/10

#twosentencereview
Profile Image for Johnnysbookreviews .
604 reviews11 followers
January 8, 2024
The story that is based on the movie. I love this story.

The storybook was short and sweet. The movie provides more detail, but this is a solid book.
Profile Image for Sara.
333 reviews
November 23, 2021
This was pretty cute. I left out the parts where Buddy called himself a name and when he yelled at the Santa in the store

Eliana’s review: “I didn’t like the man yelling at Buddy. I did like Jovie and I liked that Buddy helped Santa fix the sleigh.”
Profile Image for Cynthia  Gutzwiller.
1,778 reviews24 followers
November 2, 2020
I was the lucky one who won this book on a contest on Goodreads. This book is based on the movie. The illustrations are above and beyond amazing. The storyline will keep your kids wanting to turn the next page to see more.
On Christmas Eve while Santa was eating cookies, an human baby crawled in the bag. On Christmas Day they heard a strange noise from Santa's bag. Out came a baby and one of the older elves adopted him. His name was Buddy. He had more Christmas spirit than anyone. He did his best to fit in but Papa elf knew it was time to tell him his story. What did Buddy do? Did he stay at the North Pole? You get to read/listen to find out. Ho! Ho! Ho! Excitement!
Profile Image for Sasha.
664 reviews28 followers
November 4, 2020
First I would like to state that I have received this book through goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank the author for giving me this opportunity and honor in being able to read this book. This book was a very fun and interesting to read. The illustrations were very good and colorful making this book very much child friendly and fun for a child to read or to be read to. The story line was very good and interesting also. I would recommend this book to others to either read to their children/grandchildren or for children to read themselves. It is a very good book. Great job!
Profile Image for Lysa.
Author 3 books8 followers
October 28, 2020
I received this book for free in a GoodReads Giveaway.

The artwork is beautiful and reflects the wonder of the movie it’s based off. The style of writing and font chosen are great for young readers. I entered the giveaway with my two godchildren in mind and they love it, but that might be because they love Elf the movie! From a librarian standpoint, the book is a sturdy hardcover with dustjacket that will be a great addition to any family shelf for holiday reading. I can’t wait to see my godchildren reading it on Christmas Eve with PJs and hot chocolate before Santa comes.
Profile Image for The Belle With the Books.
40 reviews6 followers
November 16, 2020
I was so excited to win this book! We love the movie "Elf" in our house, so having the book to add to our Christmas collection is awesome. Every bit of the story is there- all of the important parts. The illustrations are fantastic! So bright and cheery. It's one of our new favorites. I would definitely recommend this edition to anyone with little ones- and to those who just love sweetly told and illustrated Christmas stories!
Profile Image for Mia.
555 reviews4 followers
January 5, 2022
I wasn't sure if they could cram the entire movie into a teeny tiny picture book... But they did! It would be really fun to read this to your child before watching the movie. The plot is identical to the film -- it just goes a little more quickly and simplifies a few plot points. Still great despite the short cuts. And the illustration style is so fun. Highly recommend for lovers of Elf and people who've never seen or heart of it!
Profile Image for Micah Downey.
36 reviews12 followers
November 8, 2020
I was so thrilled to receive this illustrated book as it’s my husband and children’s absolute favorite Christmas movie. The book did not let us down. It was absolutely perfect and included all our favorite moments from the movie. We look forward to reading this over and over again this Christmas season!
Profile Image for Sundee Perkins.
262 reviews10 followers
December 6, 2020
Elf is a holiday staple in my home, and I thought this was a cute adaptation. There were definitely some changes made to this story from the movie (the book makes it more child-friendly, if that's even possible), and Buddy's hair is different (yes, that bothered me, when all the other characters look the same), but I still enjoyed it.
Profile Image for TJ Neer.
33 reviews1 follower
December 14, 2020
it will be no surprise to anyone that my favorite christmas movie being illustrated by Kim Smith is, of course, a five-star book in my opinion. if you love Elf, you’ll enjoy this. it’s fun to read alone or out loud. perhaps we could edit it to include “the best way to spread christmas cheer is reading loud for all to hear”
Profile Image for AMY.
2,821 reviews
September 7, 2022
This book is based on the movie and it really seems silly to me. I was not really into the movie but I gave it a chance. The illustrations are colorful and exciting. However, the story itself is strange and it doesn't really seem like a kid kind of story. If you are a fan of the movie maybe your kids will like it, but I would skip it. Not recommended for elementary level.
Profile Image for R. L. Peterson.
916 reviews35 followers
December 11, 2023
This book was hilarious! I did notice a big plot hole, but this is based off a movie, so maybe it explains why the orphanage baby has a family? Idk, I need answers XD

This is a Santa Claus Story, but it's cute and if you're like me and just look at Santa as a Winter Fairytale, it wont bother you ;)
Profile Image for Lynn Grundset Milner.
166 reviews8 followers
January 14, 2024
I received this as a Christmas gift from my daughter-in-law. I love the movie and it is a family tradition to watch it together. I read the book with my grandsons and later in the evening came in and saw my oldest grandson who is 6 hugging the book. I try to have Christmas cheer all year and Buddy is a great reminder.
Profile Image for Jodie.
2,286 reviews
October 6, 2020
How could I not pick up a copy of this book!? It is one of my absolute favorite holiday movies. I loved it. This series is a lot of fun and a great way to share some of my favorite movies with the little people in my life.
97 reviews2 followers
November 2, 2020
I won this book in the giveaway and it was such a joy to read! I shared this with my nieces and they cannot stop talking about it. Wonderfully written and illustrated, Elf would make the perfect gift this season.
Profile Image for Christy Broderick⁷.
686 reviews17 followers
December 15, 2020
Just like the movie, I love how happy I feel after experiencing it! This book was just like how I imagined it when Buddy reads his story to the children at the end of the movie! So cute and the illustrations are very colorful. A perfect read for the holidays if you love the movie 🎄📚❤️
Profile Image for Sarah.
17 reviews
April 18, 2022
A beautiful book for everyone who loves Christmas, the movie elf or just loves to be nostalgic.
The Illustartions are beautiful and very colorful. The story is the same story like the movie. Beautiful told in pictures and written.
A great book for kids but also adults!
Profile Image for Katie Kaste.
2,110 reviews
December 5, 2022
Elf is the story of Buddy the Elf. If you haven't seen this classic movie, please do. It is super sweet. This book has a similar art style to the movie. I loved it, a very cute book I can't wait to share with my nephew.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews

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