Operation E.L.F. - The Christmas Countdown

25 missions. One missing E.L.F. A Christmas mystery waiting to be solved.

Forget another advent calendar filled with little things that get eaten, lost or thrown away. This Christmas, give your child an adventure they'll take charge of themselves.

Operative E.L.F. has disappeared. Somewhere in the world, clues are waiting to be discovered. Young explorers must follow the trail, investigate mysterious events, tackle hands-on challenges and collect the clues needed to crack a secret Christmas cipher.

But here's the twist: they choose where the adventure takes them next.

Each mission opens up new possibilities, encouraging children to observe, question, experiment, create and work things out for themselves. From snowy mountains to faraway destinations, every discovery brings them closer to solving the mystery.

And on Christmas Day? One final mission and a special surprise await.

A different kind of advent calendar

• 25 immersive missions - an unfolding Christmas mystery with a Christmas Day finale.

• Child-led exploration - children choose their route and decide which challenges to tackle.

• Real-world discoveries - geography, science, observation, creativity and problem-solving woven into the adventure.

• Hands-on thinking - opportunities to investigate, make, measure and experiment using everyday objects.

• Less throwaway stuff - thoughtfully chosen paper-based materials and keepsakes designed to have a purpose beyond Christmas.

• A special Christmas Day reveal - bringing the adventure to a memorable conclusion.

What's inside the box?

Your explorer's mission pack includes:

• 25 printed Christmas mystery missions

• Explorer Passport and A3 full colour world map

• Field Journal for discoveries and ideas

• Classified cipher instructions

• Bamboo pen and wooden ruler

• A special guide and booklet for parents and carers

• Christmas Day surprises, including kindness tokens, Pebble Patience, seeds to plant and a reusable double sided whiteboard

Less chocolate. Less throwaway plastic. More wonder.

Christmas countdowns don't have to be about another piece of chocolate or another little plastic toy.

Operation E.L.F. - The Christmas Countdown offers something different: 25 hands-on missions that invite children to explore, investigate, create and think for themselves.

Instead of opening a door to find something that's eaten in seconds or quickly forgotten, children uncover another part of a Christmas mystery. Along the way, they collect clues, make discoveries and build towards a special Christmas Day finale.

Designed around paper-based adventures, reusable explorer tools and meaningful keepsakes, Operation E.L.F. puts the emphasis on curiosity, imagination and experiences rather than disposable surprises.

It's not about taking the treats out of Christmas. It's about adding something wonderful alongside them.

Because the most memorable part of a countdown isn't always what children receive. Sometimes, it's what they discover.

And if your Explorer loves the tradition of a chocolate advent calendar, there's no need to give that up! Why not keep a tub of their favourite little chocolates nearby and enjoy one together after each day's adventure?

A little chocolate, a little curiosity, and a whole lot of Christmas magic.

Choose your edition

Adventurer - More guidance, structured activities and encouragement for children building confidence.

Investigator - More open-ended challenges and independence for confident readers and thinkers.

Both editions follow the same story, visit the same destinations and develop the same thinking habits. The difference is how much support the child receives.

An adventure they can make their own

There's no need to complete every challenge or find a perfect answer. Children can follow their curiosity, use what they have around them and make their own discoveries.

Parents can join in, but they don't have to run the show.

More mystery. More imagination. Less throwaway stuff.

Make this Christmas a little more extraordinary.

£34.99 - Royal Mail Tracked 48 delivery included.

Pre-orders are open. The first dispatch batch is scheduled for Friday 6 November 2026. Subsequent pre-orders are scheduled for dispatch by Monday 23 November. Your applicable dispatch date will be confirmed before purchase.