The Little Red Elf

Barbara Barbieri McGrath and Rosalinde Bonnet

The Little Red Elf by Barbara Barbieri McGrath and Rosalinde Bonnet, published by Charlesbridge Once upon a time, there was a reindeer, a penguin, a hare, and a little red elf. They all lived together in a comfy, cozy workshop. The reindeer liked to snooze in the straw. The penguin liked to relax in the bathtub. The hare liked to hibernate by the hearth. That left the little red elf to get all the workshop work done. She swept the sawdust and boxed the bulbs. She organized the tools. She stirred the paint and untangled the lights. She shoveled the path and checked the mail and polished the sleigh. One day while she was filling the bird feeders, she came upon some pinecones. "Who will help me plant these pinecones?" asked the little red elf. "Not I," said the reindeer. "Not I," said the penguin. "Did someone say something?" mumbled the hare. "Then I will," said the little red elf. And she did. Soon a little pine tree began to push through the ground. "Who will help me water the pine tree?" chirped the little red elf. "Not I," said the reindeer. "No, thanks," said the penguin. "ZZZZZZZZZzzzzz," snored the hare. "Nor a problem - I'll do it myself," said the little red elf. Each morning the little red elf watered the pine tree. She was delighted to see it grow straight and tall.