Merry pranksters' hide 'n' sneak peek

Look out, boys and girls --

There's an elf on the loose.

He'll flirt with your Barbies or ride your toy moose.

About a month ago, Jackson resident Noah Svehla, 4, was read a bedtime story about an elf. His mother, Lori, asked what he would name the elf if he had one.

Noah chose "John," a remarkably sensible choice, considering the 4-year-old who had just read a book that suggested names like Fisbee, Criddle and Zart.

Engert family elf Doodle plays Yahtzee with Uncle Si from "Duck Dynasty." (Submitted)

"The next morning, my husband and I woke Noah up saying something crazy had happened in the living room," Lori explained. There was an elf named John in there.

At first, Noah was confused -- still groggy, to be sure. What was that elf doing in the living room? And what was he gazing at, just up and to the left?

"Then he remembered the book from the night before. He kept saying, 'So this is real? This is really, really real?'" Lori said.

Noah -- amazed by the event, yet mindful that the elf was there to document his manners -- dutifully called his grandma to thank her for the magic book and that the elf from the book was real.

Written by Carol V. Aebersold and Chanda A. Bell less than a decade ago, 'The Elf on the Shelf' has become a runaway hit.

Doodle takes a break from his pranks in his toilet-paper hammock. (Submitted)

The 12-inch-tall elf and accompanying book lay the ground rules for a new Christmas tradition in which an elf, named by the children, shows up around the house between Thanksgiving and Christmas to act as Santa's emissary, making sure they stay sufficiently well-behaved while "the boss" is busy making their toys.

As part of the game, the children are tasked with finding their elf every morning, as his Christmas magic enables him travel to the North Pole to report to Santa while the children are sleeping, and then hide in different places. As pictures of various families' elves started making the rounds on social media, the elves' nightly shenanigans got more elaborate -- and more mischievous.

"Most of the time [John] does something mischievous, but other times he has brought very small gifts or treats for being a good boy," Lori said. "Noah has also gotten a letter from Santa [via John] when he needs to do some working on his behavior."

Whether they're making s'mores over a tea candle, sipping maple syrup or pooping assorted candies, the elves' hijinks are perfect for sharing on social media. Svehla says her co-workers enjoy seeing what John's up to every now and then.

Altenburg mom Kellie Engert shares pictures of her family's elf every morning as part of the countdown to Christmas.

John, the Svehla family elf, takes a zip line from window to Christmas tree. (Submitted)

Engert says that when her family's elf showed up two years ago, her children were thrilled. Brock and Korby, now 11 and 6, named the scout elf Doodle.

She says Doodle made himself at home each night, playing board games with other plush dolls and go-fish with action figures.

"The first couple of years, Doodle would get into a lot of trouble, but this year, Doodle has not caused any trouble," she said. "He has been a very good elf."

Doodle the Elf declined to comment on his checkered past, as Santa Claus has forbidden all shelf-elves from speaking, but these days he usually takes it easy and can often be found in his toilet paper hammock.

"Elf on the shelf is so much fun for our family," Svehla said. "We love having something in our home to keep our son excited for Christmas and remind him that he always needs to be on his best behavior."

Some people, like Canadian professor Laura Pinto, have made headlines by questioning whether the elves' presence is a good thing. She says she's uncomfortable with the elves watching her all the time.

Sounds like someone's destined for the naughty list.

The elf on the shelf

is harmless and super

and if you don't agree,

you're a big

party-pooper.