Every December, millions of cheeky little elves arrive in homes across the UK - perching on shelves, dangling from bannisters and leaving a trail of glittery mischief behind them. For lots of families, the Christmas elf tradition is the most magical part of the countdown to Christmas.

Letters from elves are a unique form of "stealth reading." They bypass the resistance often associated with school books or assigned reading books, transforming the act of daily reading into an irresistible mission of magical discovery.