Elf on the Shelf? It’s just like that tricky wee fucker from the Lucky Charms box. I swear to God, you sneaky little Mick*, that if I ever get my hands on you again, I’ll not be falling for the old “Ooh, I have a new marshmallow colour and shape” gambit this time. I’ll put that shillelagh right up your green clovers till you see yellow stars and blue diamonds.

A self-published children’s holiday book has become a bestseller at a major online retailer—but some independent booksellers are having trouble getting their hands on copies because of the publisher’s strict 12-copy minimum order. First published five years ago and sold through Junior Leagues, The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition is currently B&N.com’s number-one selling book. Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell wrote the book and founded CCA and B (Creatively Classic Activities and Books) to publish it in 2005, along with Aebersold’s other daughter Christa Pitts. Sales growth has averaged 342% a year; first-year sales were a little over $100,000, and the company expects 2009 sales to approach $7 million. But several New England booksellers have said they were unable to order just one or two copies of the book—a $29.95 hardcover that comes with an elf doll—and must order in increments of 12, which has led to some stores teaming up and splitting orders.

*The writer of this sentence is Irish. No leprachauns were harmed in the making of this sentence. Though if I ever get my hands on one…….. POW!