The Little Red Elf
Written by Barbara Barbieri McGrath, Illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet,
Page 1
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.
Page 2
The reindeer liked to snooze in the straw.
Page 3
The penguin liked to relax in the bathtub.
Page 4
The hare liked to hibernate by the hearth.
Page 5
That left the little red elf to get all the workshop work done.
Page 6
She swept the sawdust and boxed the bulbs.
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She organized the tools.
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She stirred the paint and untangled the lights.
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She shoveled the path and checked the mail
and polished the sleigh.
Page 10
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.
Page 11
"Not I," said the reindeer.
"Not I," said the penguin.
"Did someone say something?"
mumbled the hare.
Page 12
"Then I will," said the little red elf.
And she did.
Page 13
Soon a little pine tree began to push through the ground.
"Who will help me water the pine tree?" chirped the little red elf.
Page 14
"Not I," said the reindeer.
"No, thanks," said the penguin.
"ZZZZZZZZZzzzzz," snored the hare.
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"Not a problem - I'll do it myself," said the little red elf.
Page 16
Each morning the little red elf
watered the pine tree.
She was delighted to see it
grow straight and tall.
Page 17
Finally the pine tree
was ready.The little red
elf asked her friends,
"Who will help me bring
the tree into the workshop?"
Page 18
"Not I," said the reindeer.
"Blub, blub," squirted the penguin.
"ZZZZZZZZZzzzzz," snored the hare.
Page 19
"Well, I love being busy!" said the little red elf
with the most positive of attitudes.
Page 20
The little red elf got her shovel and dug and dug and dug. She lifted the tree into a bucket and carefully brought it into the workshop. When the tree was positioned just the right way, the little red elf asked,
"Who will help me string the lights on the tree?"
Page 21
"Not I," said the reindeer.
"What's with all the questions?"
said the penguin.
Page 22
"Ten more minutes," grumbled the hare.
Page 23
"Then I'll handle it," said the little red elf.
Page 24
After the lights were up, the little red elf grew tired.
"I don't suppose there's anyone here who might assist me
in putting ornaments on the tree?" she begged.
Page 25
"Not I," said the reindeer.
"They float, don't they?" said the penguin.
"Who's there?" said the hare.
Page 26
The little red elf
took a deep breath.
"That's okay, I can do this!"
she exclaimed.
Page 27
Soon the workshop began to glow and sparkle.
"Ooooooooh," said the reindeer.
"Aaaaaaaaahhh," said the penguin.
"You missed a spot," said the hare, with one eye open.
Page 28
"Now that I have your attention,"
the little red elf said with a smile,
"who will help me put out milk and cookies?"
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"Not I," said the reindeer.
"Why bother saying yes now?"
said the penguin.
Page 30
"I'm allergic," said the hare.
Page 31
"No big deal," said the little red elf.
Page 32
The next morning piles and piles of presents sat under the tree. Everyone was up very early, for a change. The little red elf raised an eyebrow, though her voice was as sweet as ever.
"Who will help me open the presents?"
Page 33
"I will!" said the reindeer.
"I will!" yelled the penguin.
"I want the big one!" screamed the hare.
Page 34
With that, the little red elf put her hands out and
shouted, "STOP! I planted the tree. I watered the
tree. I brought the tree into the workshop. I strung
the lights. I decorated the tree. I put out the milk
and cookies. Now I'm going to open all
the presents myself."
Page 35
The reindeer, the penguin, and the hare stood very still.
They were shocked.
Then they began to cry.
Page 36
The little red elf put her hands down.
"Oh, please don't cry!" she said.
"I'm sorry. Of course you can open the presents."
Page 37
The reindeer, the penguin, and the hare dove into the gifts.
Paper and ribbon flew through the air.
"What did you get?" asked the little red elf.
Page 38
"Aaah . . . the perfect gifts for you!
Thank you, Santa!" she said.
