’Tis always the season to be jolly, and with this good cheer comes the announcement of a collaboration between The Lumistella Company and HarperCollins Publishers. Starting this September, HarperCollins Children’s Books will release an exciting range of eleven The Elf on the Shelf universe-themed titles over the next five years, and William Morrow Cookbooks will publish a holiday inspired, fun-filled cookbook in fall 2024. Global rights for The Lumistella Company publishing program were sold to Rich Thomas, VP/Director, Publishing, HarperCollins Children’s Books, and global rights for The Elf on the Shelf cookbook were sold to Cassie Jones, VP/Executive Editor and Editorial Director for William Morrow Cookbooks, by Cait Hoyt at Creative Artists Agency.
Since its inception in 2005, The Lumistella Company’s The Elf on the Shelf has captured hearts all over the world, with over 19.5 million Scout Elves adopted to date. The perennial favorite has become a treasured component of families’ seasonal celebrations and a beloved generational classic, with the earliest adopters now passing on the joyous tradition to their own children.
This publishing program will introduce readers to an enchanted world beyond The Elf on the Shelf® and include paperback, hardcover, and digital editions of novelty books, early readers, picture books, and fiction featuring familiar and new characters from Santa’s North Pole. The program will include an origin story developed by Chanda A. Bell, author of The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition, which is ranked by Publishers Weekly among the top-selling titles of the last 25 years across all genres and the fourth-best-selling children’s book of the last 25 years by USA Today.
Bell, co-founder and co-CEO of The Lumistella Company, said: “Our partnership with HarperCollins Publishers is a testament to our unwavering commitment to tell the stories of Santa’s North Pole in innovative and fresh ways. The enchanted North Pole has a rich, untold history that’s brimming with beloved characters, magic, and action that will transport young readers into a vast universe and an age-old quest to protect the spirit of Christmas.”
Rich Thomas, VP/Director, Publishing, HarperCollins Children’s Books, said: “The Elf on the Shelf is a bona fide children’s classic that has become a cherished holiday tradition. We’re thrilled to have the Scout Elves and all their North Pole friends joining HarperCollins’ rich library of beloved classics and spreading Christmas joy to readers of all ages.”
The first wave of releases will land at booksellers across the US in September 2023, just in time to spread holiday cheer among families celebrating the festive season. The initial lineup will feature a vibrant sticker book, a picture book, and an engaging I Can Read title, all aimed at bringing a merry and bright season to readers of all ages.