Magnificent Mabel and the Christmas Elf

Ruth Quayle's Magnificent Mabel and the Christmas Elf is a cheeky set of three stories for 5 year olds, starting with a Christmas Eve that goes wrong in a very Mabel way.

What happens

It's the second Magnificent Mabel book. At Christmas, Mabel says, she can't help being a sweety heart. She's kind to grumpy Edward Silitoe. She's polite when Dad knocks her paper snowflakes on the floor. Then Meg comes home with a bag of presents for everyone, and Mabel remembers she spent her pocket money on a toy stethoscope for herself.

So at midnight she creeps downstairs with some "recycled" presents. Polly the doll with a bald patch for Meg. A word search book she's never touched for Dad. And that's when the naughty light-up elf on the tree winks at her and starts giving orders.

Of course it's ALL the elf's fault. That's the joy of Mabel. She tells you everything with total confidence, and it's great fun spotting the gap between her version and what's really going on.

In the second story a new boy, Jordi Bhogal, joins Class One, and Mabel is going to be kind and welcoming to him whether he likes it or not. Ant zoos and tightrope walking along the playground fence are involved.

In the third, toddler cousin William comes to stay. Mabel insists this will be easy because she's brilliant with babies. (Meg and Mum aren't so sure.)

There's real warmth under the stomping too. When Meg gets upset, Mabel feels like crying as well, and she's first in to help.

Her made-up words are half the fun. Chirpety. Flibberty. Toppity speed. Reading it aloud, you'll probably find yourself doing her stompy voice without even trying.

If your reader has ever been just a little bit jealous of a big brother or sister, Mabel will feel like a friend.

What to read next

Mabel and Class One are back in Magnificent Mabel and the Very Bad Birthday Party. Her birthday is the last in the whole class, and waiting for it feels like forever.