The Forgotten Helper

by Lorrie Moore, T . Lewis (Illustrator)

Aben is Santa's best toy maker. He is also Santa's grouchiest, most ill-behaved elf. On Christmas Eve while Santa and the other elves are delivering gifts, Aben's task is to watch the reindeer. But at the very last house, Aben sneaks down the chimney to take a look around. When he comes back up to the roof, Santa, the elves, and the sleigh are gone! Aben must wait a whole year until Santa returns. As the stranded Aben investigates the house, he finds a young girl who is as grouchy and mischievous as he is. No wonder Santa almost didn't stop to bring Ivy gifts this year. And who's to say he will next year if this incorrigible girl doesn't learn to behave? So begins Aben's he must learn about Ivy and devise a plan to ensure that Santa will come back for him next Christmas Eve.

Genres: Christmas

96 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

LORRIE MOORE is the Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of English at Vanderbilt University. She is the recipient of a Lannan Foundation fellowship, as well as the PEN/Malamud Award and the Rea Award for her achievement in the short story. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

Reviews

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m reading my way through Lorrie Moore’s work for a project, and had this in my stash. It’s a children’s Christmas book so not really my cup of tea. There’s a crotchety old elf and a bad-tempered little girl as the main characters. The elf gets left behind and has to spend a year in the attic of the bad-tempered little girl. There’s a slightly hard-warming ending, but cute for me.

[Ivory Clair · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books growing up! Aben "having a ball" always made me laugh so hard as a kid.

[Lucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

My holiday read-aloud with B.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an entertaining story about being good, kind and helpful to others. When a naughty elf is left behind at the house of a naughty girl, he has a year to figure out how to make sure Santa returns next Christmas.

The story is a quick read and very silly in places. Our girls loved Aben's inventive spirit and I loved that the story gave me an opportunity to talk about estivation. We enjoyed reading this book together.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The forgotten helper, a Christmas story by Lorrie Moore
One elf is left behind at a bad girls house. He must make her be good or Santa won't stop by to pick him up next year.
The elf is grouchy and didn't help watch the reindeer. For the year he comes up with a plan where others help him make her happy again.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

[Alessia Nolli b · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natalizio, da leggere a qualunque età, sotto una coperta, sul divano, davanti al camino. Storia di crescita e cambiamento. Per essere tutti più buoni.

[Andi · Rating 3 out of 5]

E' un raccontino grazioso.