The Night Fairy
Laura Amy Schlitz (author)
Angela Barrett (illustration)
Candlewick Press, USA: 2010; 117pp
ISBN: 9780763636746
Issues: identity
Genres: fairytale, fantasy
Born a little before midnight, Flory the night-fairy at first enjoys the glorious mysteries of the darker half of the day, delighting in her beautiful wings and gradually learning how to use her powers. In Flory's world, fairies raise themselves and as they age spells and the ability to use them gradually unfold in their head. Then the worst possible thing happens - a bat mistakes Flory's wings for those of a moth and bites them off, nearly killing the tiny fairy.
In dreadful pain and thoroughly frightened, Flory decides that she'll become a day fairy, where she can at least see dangers coming. She makes her home in a convenient nesting box in a beautiful garden belonging to some friendly giants. Her feisty nature enables her to survive many dangerous encounters but in her heart she still longs to fly again. Will she ever be able to find a mount willing to do her bidding?
This beautiful hardback edition has magnificent colour plates, created by Angela Barrett, a highly-acclaimed British illustrator. Exquisite snapshots of Flory's world - and perspective - they draw the reader into her world in all its beauty, as well as its intimidating dimensions. Laura Amy Schlitz likes to play with character and stereotypes and in this novel she writes about the kind of fairy she thinks the little girls of her acquaintance deserve - one who is strong, feisty and opinionated! A simple enough narrative, The Night Fairy is nevertheless finely crafted and a delight to read aloud. Adult readers will enjoy the language and descriptions almost as much as younger readers will enjoy the characters and their adventures.
Suitable for reading aloud to beginning readers, The Night Fairy requires good independent reading skills for solo reading.
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