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.