This summer I visited friends who lead a life of magic. They watch for gnomes, plant their garden to please the enchanted creatures who lived in their woods, and their nine year old interprets blotches of light on photographs as fairies. In their presence, I remembered how much I believed. I'm pleased to announce there are others who believe, too. Someone must have waved a wand over publishers to bring about so many new books about small magical beings.
Jim Aylesworth tells a whimsical folk tale in The Full Belly Bowl (Atheneum, $16.00; ages 4-8). An elderly man, who's poor, but cheerful, rescues a wee person from the jaws of a fox, and takes him home to mend. His kindness is rewarded with the gift of a magical bowl which fills with whatever occupies it. As with most magic, there's a catch...the bowl must be turned upside down when not in use. Increasing food and money make the man a lot more comfortable, but when a mouse multiplies in the bowl and the old man duplicates his cat to remedy the overpopulation, the bowl is broken in the chaos. Wendy Halperin's intricate drawings gracing the pages are a perfect accompaniment to describe the magic, the miniature, and the cheerful country setting of the old man's world.
Lauren Mills writes a magical sibling story in The Goblin Baby (Dial, $15.99; ages 5-8) The heroine, Amanda, has a knowledge of both the natural and enchanted worlds that surround her. With her dear pet rabbit, Miss Lucy Larkin, she pulls weeds, reigns in the neighbor's dog, and chats with her garden friends, the gnomes. While Amanda is quick to correct the gnomes about their mistreatment of the frogs whom they call "warty-head" and "jelly belly", she has her own complaint-- her crying, ugly, new baby brother. A consultation from the gnomes decides it, he's most definitely a changeling child and they hatch a plan to rescue her real brother from the goblins. Lauren Mills' drawings and words give readers all they need to make Amanda's world plausible and convincing with delicate drawing of tiny botanical beauty. The caring, costuming, and curious traits she gives her characters make the gnomes seem just as real as the displeased older sister and wailing new baby.
Sandy Nightingale's Dear Fairies (Little Simon, $14.95; ages 5-9) traces the wonderful relationship of a young girl and the fairies who surround her. Adele, wearing her new fairy outfit, has a wonderful birthday party, but her greatest gift arrives after the last guest leaves. Under the strawberries, she finds a tiny hidden letter. From then on she discovers fairy customs and habits through letters delivered by snail, butterfly, or concealed in her garden. When a neighborhood boy doubts their validity, Adele questions her mother and finds her mother's had the same experience. Almost every page holds a small letter , extending Adele's experience to readers. The last page contains a miniature kit for them to begin writing their own letters to fairies.
Wanting to invite fairies in? Start with The Secret Fairy Party Book or How to Have Your Own Secret Fairy Party as told by the Fairies to Penny Dann (Orchard, $14.95; ages 5-9). Inside the book we watch a fairy party unfold and this interactive book provides fairy wings, an invitation, tiny nail tattoos, earrings, and barrettes, and even your own paper wand.
Fairies love flowers and now lead children in preserving their own with Flower Fairies Flower Press Kit (Warne, $15.00; ages 7 and up). Included in the kit are a booklet with illustrations reproduced from Cicely Mary Barker's art, a sturdy wooden press, and directions for making gifts and saving special flowers.
The story behind the tooth fairy is told in Nurit Karlin's Abra Cadabra and the Tooth Witch (Somerville House, $14.99; ages 3-7). Before the tooth fairy came the tooth witch who collected teeth for six hundred years until boredom set in and caused for slip ups. When Abra Cadabra, a small witch is appointed as an assistant, she questions the history and comes up with answers that transform the tooth-taking industry, the small witch, and the night sky. This entertaining explanation comes packed with a silvery moon and tooth pouch ready and waiting to be placed under a pillow in wait for Abra Cadabra.
And they may be able to find them with Penelope Larkspur's help. She spotted her first fairy at eleven and since, she's dedicated her life to their study. Now shares her wealth of fairy lore in The Secret Life of Fairies (Kids Can Press, $16.95; ages 6 and up) The book takes an everything-you-want-to-know approach. Larkspur tells of fairies' appearances, powers, their home life in fairy mounds, clothing, food, roles, and more! This fascinating compendium is written with an air of authority, mystery, and magic. To encourage children in their relationship with fairies, the book includes a small necklace and a fairy-sighting form.
Jane Yolen, long time fairy tale scriber, contributes The Fairies' Ring: A Book of Fairy Stories & Poems (Dutton, $24.99; ages 7 and up). Poems and tales from around the world make up far-ranging view of fairies. There's poetry from Yolen herself as well as Robert Graves, Shakespeare, and Rose Fyleman. There are tales from Persia, England, France, and southern Africa. Yolen lives up to her reputation as tale teller as she embraces the culture in her relating. All tales are accompanied by elegant art by Stephen Mackey.
Suza Scalora's The Fairies: Photographic Evidence of the Existence of Another World (HarperCollins, $19.95; all ages) is an exquisite new book for older children who love fairies, adults who still believe, and anyone who admires magnificent beauty in photographs. In the frontpiece, Scalora describes herself as a fact seeking archeologist who became fascinated with a leather bound manuscript about fairies. There follows a stunning line up of fairies photographed from around the world, with brief descriptions of their names, history, lures used to draw them out, and notes on her experiences. The colors are amazing, the models gorgeous, and the settings stunning. If you don't believe in fairies, this book might make you reconsider your position!