Who is the author of The Elf on the Shelf?

The author(s) of the book The Elf on the Shelf are Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell. You can find information about them on their website elfontheshelf.com. It (the book) is based on a tradition that is hundreds of years old, that was all but gone until the 1950's with the resurgence of elf popularity. It is rumored the tradition started in the Scandanavian countries. While Carol and her daughter wrote this particular story about the elf that spies, I have never heard them claim that they invented this tradition. I think the story is clever, and based on the information I have been able to gather about them (more info at ccaandb.com) they are an inventive duo who worked really hard to share their family tradition with the world. The Elf on the Shelf is a popular children's book that comes with a real elf from the North Pole. A family can adopt an elf for about $30.00 from elfontheshelf.com or through local storefronts. It is said that Santa had to send the elves to the stores because not all families want an elf or celebrate Christmas and he had to make sure the elves went to famlies who wanted them. Cute story, written in rhyme, by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell. They must know Santa very well.