HOUSTON, TX. – Author Marvin D Pipher unwraps a spectacular holiday gift for kids of all ages.  His book’s premier story, Little Elf, for which the book is titled, gives his readers the unique opportunity to experience Christmas through the eyes of Neen, Santa’s smallest elf, and through that vision lets tiny tots discover the true meaning of Christmas.   

The cleverly contrived stories in part two of the book deliver amusing insight into the types of characters who may have inspired six legendary children’s tales.  

“Little Elf Learns the True Meaning of Christmas: A Book of Short Stories tells the story of a little elf named Neen, whose curiosity gets the better of her.  Like Santa’s other helpers, Neen had worked all year preparing presents for Santa to deliver on Christmas Eve.  She had wrapped dolls on one of Santa’s assembly lines and was proud of what she had accomplished. But something always bothered 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. 

She knew she didn’t have the nerve to ask Santa a big question like that.  So as his sleigh was nearing time for launch on Christmas Eve, she stowed away to find out for herself what Santa did and why he did it.  It was a fast and harrowing ride, at the end of which she hadn’t learned a thing.  So at the last stop, she followed Santa as he raced across the rooftop to see what she could see.  Then fate stepped in.  She lost her footing and tumbled down the chimney and was soon left behind when Santa and his reindeer departed for the pole.   

Neen was frightened.  What would happen to her, she wondered, if she was caught.  But being clever and smart, she found a way to solve her problems, to hide, and to discover what Christmas was all about.  When she did, Neen was overjoyed.  Even more so when, after a trying day of playing with other dolls, Santa came to her rescue.   

In a charming cumulative collection of stories, Pipher’s imagination brings to life the magic of Christmas and of timeless children’s literature.  He intricately weaves a tapestry of Santa’s unwavering love and appreciation for his loyal helpers.  And. with every page turned, he transports his readers to uplifting stories of courage, heart, love, and perseverance. Whatever the answer, his whimsical stories bring joy and stimulate a child’s imagination.  This book will entertain your children as they too countdown the days until Christmas.  

“Little Elf Learns the True Meaning of Christmas: A Book of Short Stories” 

By Marvin Pipher 

Kindle | $8.49 

Paperback | $17.95 

Hardcover | $28.95 

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other online book retailers 

About the Author

The author graduated from the school of engineering at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) just as the space race was getting underway.  As a result, he spent his entire 40 year career working as an electrical engineer on virtually all of NASA’s manned space programs in California, in launch operations in Florida, and in flight operations and mission planning in Texas.  Retiring the week before 9/11, he turned to his first love, writing, and subsequently has authored four book.  He current resides near the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.