The Night Fairy

All is not well in fairyland, at least for Flory, a young night fairy whose wings were broken during an encounter with a bat. Feeling vulnerable when unable to fly, Flory finds shelter in a wren house and decides to become a day fairy despite her nocturnal bent ("She soon found that her body did not like the day. Her skin liked to be cool and moist, not hot and dry"). In this whimsical and cozy tale, Newbery Medalist Schlitz (Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village) explores what it's like for a tiny winged creature to be grounded. Readers will delight in Flory's resourcefulness in finding food, clothing, and a new form of transportation (on the back of a squirrel), and identify with her brash, childlike personality ("I hate, hate, hate bats, and I'm always going to hate them"), which softens as she grows compassionate and makes friends. Culminating with Flory's brave act of saving a hummingbird caught in a spider's web, this story reveals how handicaps can be overcome through quick thinking and determination. Full-color art not seen by PW. Ages 7-11. 

Copyright 2010 Publisher’s Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 1-4-Flory is a night fairy who is still becoming accustomed to her beautiful mothlike wings when a run-in with a bat drops her into a strange garden unable to fly. She is forced to learn to survive in the daylight and takes up residence in a birdhouse in a Giantess's garden. Flory, no taller than an acorn, struggles at first with squirrels, hummingbirds, spiders, and other creatures that do not look at the world the same way she does. She quickly learns that kindness, compassion, generosity, and bravery can help her to make much-needed friends. Written in short chapters, this beautifully crafted tale works equally well as a read-aloud or as independent reading. Barrett's full-color watercolor illustrations add depth and perspective to the story. Detailed and drawn to scale, they give readers a sense of just how tiny Flory is compared to the other animals. Children will enjoy looking at this garden from the perspective of the tiny but resilient protagonist. Sure to be a favorite among girls who love fairies.

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Prepare to have your notions of fairyhood debunked: Flory, our heroine, can be snarky and rough. But she's also gutsy, loyal, and inherently good. The story of how Flory must fend for herself after losing her wings brings equal doses of character and suspense - and offers a satisfying antidote to all those prissy princess tales.
—Real Simple Family

This elegant hardback's snug size and Angela Barrett's exquisite miniature illustrations have the effect of making readers feel as if they've crept through a magic portal into a fairy-scale world. Indeed, looking up at story's end, children may be mildly surprised to find that they're still the size they've always been.
—The Wall Street Journal