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sophie_sciuto's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
3.5
this was a cute children's book about christmas. loved the family and the story was short and sweet!
krivas91's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Ultimately, I liked this story and the diversity of the characters, but I still found it somewhat lacking. The back cover description makes it seem as though the clandestine kid radio network plays a bigger role in the book than it does. And why is the city the “city of R.”? Is “R.” short for something? If so, what?
Content Warnings
Minor: Xenophobia and Homophobia
stitchsaddiction's review
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
“For all the children who disobey; and, in doing so, change the world.”
Elves on the Fifth Floor is a wonderful Christmas story that really filled me with joy at the prominance of LGBTQIA characters in the forefront of the tale as the Greco-Aiden children have two wonderful Mummies. I thought it was carefully done when the family are forced to leave their original home town due to the same-sex couple. It’s long over due that there are childrens books that feature LGBTQIA characters and same-sex couples as parents so that there is more representation and to teach younger children that family setups such as the Greco-Aidens are normal.
The story itself is very warming and perfect for a cold night’s bedtime story filled with the love of family and the wonder of Christmas, Santa Claus and his amazing and talented elves especially the ten that arrive needing the help of the three children and one of their parents with the abundance of presents. Magic and wonder is imperative throughout your life, and I always feel sad when you see the dulling of wonder in a person’s eyes and I will promise you that if youre a parent reading this to your excited children before bed with Father Christmas’s visit around the corner? That magic will come back.
Alongside this heartwarming story with wonderful characters and a story that captures the heart of whoever reads it, there is stunning artwork that perfectly compliments the arrival of the Greco-Aiden family to the City of R, and them coming to the assistance of a very busy Father Christmas. Each scene that has been drawn shines with that same sense of warmth and I feel it truly helps bring more life and magic to the story.
From a grown up’s point of view, I really have to compliment the author on how they handle some of the harder aspects of life that people face from forced migration, police harrassment, and neighbours who shun the unknown alongside the reality of being new to a place of residence or employment. Each of these subject matters are woven so well into the story, and as a result you could have conversations with your child over subject matters that sadly many face and all should know about.
miocenemama's review
4.0
This is a very cute book about a family with two moms that move to the city of R when their kind of family becomes illegal where they live. They arrive shortly before Christmas only to discover that the city of R is not quite what they expected. Things take a frightening turn for the moms after their family agrees to help some of Santa's elves because the neighbors don't like the commotion and don't believe their story. I love the diversity and inclusivity in this book. I also love the message of girls as heroes and inventors. This is a book I will share with my grandchildren
ljrinaldi's review
3.0
Apparently this is the first in a series of stories about this family, of two lesbian moms, and three kids, that are refugees from a land where their type of family is outlawed.
But the town they have come to, R, might not be much better, as all the adults are very unfriendly.
Plus it is nearly Christmas, and the children are worried Santa won't know what to bring them, or where they are, so they write to him, and he replies that they could help him wrap presents.
This is a very odd little early reader book, which is a bit heavy handed on messaging.
I found the ending rather odd, but since there are supposed to be more stories to come, that might have been why it ended where it did.
Because it is an early reader, we don't much to read, and it is very short, so anything odd will remain odd.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
But the town they have come to, R, might not be much better, as all the adults are very unfriendly.
Plus it is nearly Christmas, and the children are worried Santa won't know what to bring them, or where they are, so they write to him, and he replies that they could help him wrap presents.
This is a very odd little early reader book, which is a bit heavy handed on messaging.
I found the ending rather odd, but since there are supposed to be more stories to come, that might have been why it ended where it did.
Because it is an early reader, we don't much to read, and it is very short, so anything odd will remain odd.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
eloise_bradbooks's review
3.0
2.5/5
Lovely to see a diverse family structure (two mums) in middle grade books, especially Christmas themed!!!
The illustrations were very nice and the idea behind the story pretty sweet.
It's a shame the characters dont have any depth, no growth, very little for the reader to care about anything.
Lovely to see a diverse family structure (two mums) in middle grade books, especially Christmas themed!!!
The illustrations were very nice and the idea behind the story pretty sweet.
It's a shame the characters dont have any depth, no growth, very little for the reader to care about anything.
universeccity's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
karla77711's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
bobareads's review
4.0
This was such a quick fun whimsical Christmas-ey read for me.
If I read this when I was still a little kid, I would definitely favor this book so much.
I loveeee Christmas time. Personally, I start my Christmas from November😉 but it really doesn’t hurt to start Christmas early this year by reading this. I truly feel nostalgic because this is the kind of story that I prefer when I was a kid. The family, the adventure, the Santa, the children, the elves too!
The family of 5 with 2 mommies that choose their children over everything. The adventure to save Christmas. The Santa that makes every kid wishes comes true. The children with such an innocent heart and the elves that are very magical. The art is perfect too! I loooove them!
- Thank you NetGalley and Undercats for the e-ARC -
If I read this when I was still a little kid, I would definitely favor this book so much.
I loveeee Christmas time. Personally, I start my Christmas from November😉 but it really doesn’t hurt to start Christmas early this year by reading this. I truly feel nostalgic because this is the kind of story that I prefer when I was a kid. The family, the adventure, the Santa, the children, the elves too!
The family of 5 with 2 mommies that choose their children over everything. The adventure to save Christmas. The Santa that makes every kid wishes comes true. The children with such an innocent heart and the elves that are very magical. The art is perfect too! I loooove them!
- Thank you NetGalley and Undercats for the e-ARC -