Neen, dubbed Little Elf because of her small stature, had worked all year on one of Santa's assembly lines, wrapping dolls for delivery on Christmas Eve, and she was proud of what she had accomplished. But something puzzled her. Why, she wondered, did Santa's elves work so long and so hard, without complaint, just to make the world's children happy on one day of the year? It didn't make any sense to her. What is so special about that day? She'd asked just about everyone she knew, but no one seemed to know or, if they knew, they wouldn't tell her. Finally, on Christmas Eve, curiosity got the better of her, and she decided to find out for herself. She knew she didn't have the nerve to ask Santa Clause a big question like that. So she waited until Santa's sleigh was fully loaded and then stowed away, hoping to find out what Santa was up to and why he did it. That led to a harrowing flight, at the end of which she hadn't learned a thing. Her quest was almost over, and her hopes were fading when fate stepped in and turned her world upside down. It was then that through skill and daring she finally learned the true meaning of Christmas. The question was: Now that she knew, how could she get home because Santa Claus and his sleigh had left without her? The six curious stories in part two tell us the author's truths about Cinderella, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Old King Cole. Some of these stories, although interesting, may be too shocking for little minds. But still, as parents, it's always better to know than to wonder

Mode of access: World Wide Web