<P> The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition is a 2005 children's picture book, written by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell, and illustrated by Coë Steinwart . The book tells a Christmas - themed story, written in rhyme, that explains how Santa Claus knows who is naughty and who is nice . It describes elves visiting children between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, after which they return to the North Pole until the next holiday season . The Elf on the Shelf comes in a keepsake box that features a hardbound picture book and a small soft toy in the form of a pixie scout elf . </P> <P> This story describes how Santa's "scout elves" hide in people's homes to watch over events . Once everyone goes to bed, the scout elf flies back to the North Pole to report to Santa the activities, good and bad, that have taken place throughout the day . Before the family wakes up each morning, the scout elf flies back from the North Pole and hides . By hiding in a new spot each morning around the house, the scout elf plays an ongoing game of hide and seek with the family . </P> <P> The Elf on the Shelf explains that scout elves get their magic by being named and being loved by a child . In the back of each book, families have an opportunity to write their elf's name and the date that they adopted it . Once the elf is named, the scout elf receives its special Christmas magic, which allows it to fly to and from the North Pole . </P> <P> The book tells how the magic might disappear if the scout elf is touched, so the rule for The Elf on the Shelf states, "There's only one rule that you have to follow, so I will come back and be here tomorrow: Please do not touch me . My magic might go, and Santa won't hear all I've seen or I know ." Although families are told not to touch their scout elf, they can speak to it and tell it all their Christmas wishes so that it can report back to Santa accurately . </P>

How do elf on the shelf get their magic