ATLANTA, Ga. - "The Visiting Elf" has the same option for its readers that it had for the family of Ellie, Jim, Elizabeth, Rebecca and MaryKathryn Campbell.

Reading the book geared for ages 3 to 12 could be the inspiration to begin creating family traditions and memories to last a lifetime.

Q: This is a family collaboration?

It truly is, said Ellie Campbell, a physician in the Atlanta area and listed as the book's official author. It's her book "officially" because that's what happened when they submitted it to get the ISBN designation; the Library of Congress would only accept one name, she said.

(By the way, Dr. Campbell attended the University of Illinois and has two sisters in the Teutopolis area.)

The book idea came about six years ago when the Campbells' youngest daughter was two. It seemed that the three girls just sort of noticed collaboratively that these same two elves kept appearing with Christmas decorations.

"They evolved these incredibly elaborate stories," said Campbell.

And so the book idea was born and became a way to pass on to others the traditions you've come to value in your own family?

She wanted to capture these traditions in a personal manner and pass it along to others.

"That's the whole point of the book," said Campbell. "That's what this book was all about.

"I'm a doctor by trade, but I'm a mom by God's gift."

Q: About the importance of the two elves your daughters noticed?

Those ornaments have been a part of Ellie Campbell's life since 1966. Her father gave them to her mother when her younger sister was born, she remembered.

"I got new elves and a baby sister all at the same time," she said.

The ornaments became hers following her mother's death because she was really the only sibling who remembered the event of the gift.

"I wanted those elves to be a special part of my children's lives."

Not long before the book's publication, she learned that Christopher Radko had re-issued the same elf ornament which her mother had received 40 years ago. She bought all she could find at a local department store, passing them along to all of her siblings and co-workers.

And then she had an idea. Why not tie the book - whose cover features those elves - and ornament together?

It took a few months but she got accomplished and now each book purchase comes with a coupon for an elf ornament that is mailed to its new owner by Campbell.

Q: In our conversation, you mentioned elf eve. Can you share a bit more, please, of the fantasy and making traditions?

That's all part of the charm of the book as well and here is part of weaving the tale.

Elf eve, which is a Campbell-ism, is/was Nov. 30.

In the Campbell household, that means an evening of baking cookies and writing letters to Santa Claus. Those letters explain good behavior for the year but also explain why the elves deserve to return to the Campbell household. The elves are left a cookie or two and some healthy snacks, which always disappear with their arrival on Dec. 1.

The elves only come to stay until Christmas Eve; after all, they have to return to help Santa. And while in the Campbell household, they even have their own place to reside. This year, the girls have constructed Elftopia, an elf dwelling complete with plenty to do - you have to keep elves busy and out of mischief, Campbell explained.

Arlene Mannlein can be reached at amannlein@herald-review.com or at 421-6976.

About the book

TITLE: "The Visiting Elf" by Ellie Campbell

TYPE: Paperback: 32 pages

ISBN-10: 1425975623

ISBN-13: 978-1425975623

PUBLISHER: AuthorHouse (Nov. 30, 2006)

LIST PRICE: $25.49

AVAILABLE: amazon.com; barnesandnoble.com; authorhouse.co.uk/

With each book purchase comes a coupon with instructions for redeeming for a free vintage reproduction ShinyBrite elf ornament by designer Christopher Radko. Additional elf ornaments are available for sale by sending $6 to: The Visiting Elf, 3651 Peachtree Parkway, E279, Suwanee, GA 30024-6009.