The Christmas Fairy - Hardcover

Anne Booth (Author) Anne Booth has always wanted to be a children's writer, but on the way to becoming one has worked in many jobs. Anne lives in Kent in a lovely village with her husband and four children - and the children's grandfather across the road. They have two hens called Poppy and Anastasia and two dogs called Timmy and Ben. Anne loves tea and once won a Blue Peter badge for writing a poem about two mice in a bucket of rice. Despite this, she does not own any mice. Rosalind Beardshaw (Illustrator) Rosalind Beardshaw is the illustrator of Just Right for Christmas, Just Right for Two, The Fairiest Fairy, Box, Warthog, National Trust: A Walk in the Countryside series, The Christmas Fairy and I Love You. She has illustrated many picture books for children including Mole's in Love, written by David Bedford, A Tale of Two Goats by Tom Barber and Lulu Loves the Library by Anna McQuinn. She has also illustrated a couple of her own stories: Grandma's Beach and Grandpa's Surprise. She loves creating new characters, especially if they can be based loosely/wholly on her shaggy lurcher, Basil. She lives in York with her partner, Al, daughter, Iris, and young son, Freddie, who loves watching Calamity Jane. Who knows what Doris Day's influence will be...?

PreS-Gr 1—Little Clara is learning to be a "proper Christmas fairy." She and her three smiling, round-headed classmates are all young girls with wings. Miss Petal, a grown woman who also has wings, instructs them to "stand like statues" while holding "a fairy pose" and maintaining silence. Since the rhyming tale begins by telling readers that Clara is a lively chatterbox, it is no surprise when she doesn't live up to expectations. Just as she loses confidence, Santa asks her to save the Christmas show after the performers have all taken ill or had mishaps. With no preparation, she saves the show because she is so naturally special. Santa then explains that "not every Christmas fairy has to stand still on a tree." Nevertheless, the story ends with Clara posing at the top of a tree with her presumably more suited-to-the-task classmates in the lower branches. The illustrations are bright and charming, the rhyme works well, and the layout is attractive and readable, yet the premise is troubling. Why do these young fairies aspire to be living ornaments? The conflict is of little consequence and the resolution far too convenient (and pointless). VERDICT A lovely piece of holiday fluff for those who desire effortless cuteness.—Linda Israelson, Los Angeles Public Library