Book Review: Sweetheart Fairies -- Daisy's Rainbow Picnic by Katie Peters

Book Review ...

Sweetheart Fairies -- Daisy's Rainbow Picnic

Author: Katie Peters
Illustrations: Sanja Rescek

Published in 2008 by Scholastic Children's Books
ISBN10: 0439944767       ISBN13: 9789439944762

This book is about Fairy Daisy and her friends baking goodies for their afternoon picnic.

Each page features a different sparkly fruit flip-up flap that hides beneath it a special dessert that each of her friends is bringing along. Daisy used raspberries, Jasmine a peach, Rosies cherries and Lily  blueberries. Doesn't each sounds so delicious and yummy. A story about friendship, hope and love.

It was a nice surprise to find out what had been freshly made and even though it was a secret written under the flap most were easy to guess. 

I found the graphics very pretty and the storyline is super cute that keeps the reader engaged right to the last page.

Each Sweetheart Fairy is dressed in little dresses matching the colour of the fruit that they used for their dessert. They each have a sparkly set of leaf wings, shoes and lacy trims on their gowns. Plus, each page features wee critters from butterflies to ants to caterpillars to dragonflies too! Each of these are just as sparkly as their Fairy friend. 

The graphics by Sanja is definitely the reason why I purchased this 6 paged hardcovered picture book. The raised sparkles makes this book fall within my guidelines under the touch and feel category. 

You can purchase this book through your local bookstore. I did take a look through most of the larger on-line bookstores but either they were all very expensive or out-of-stock.

Daisy's Rainbow Picnic is just one of four in this set of board books. The other titles being Jasmine's Sparkly Surprise, Rosie's Magical Hide-and-Seek and Lily's Twinkle Bedtime. Be sure to check out these other books in this series. 

Book Review: Flower Fairies Friends -- How to Host a Flower Fairy Tea Party by Frederick Warne

Book Review ...

Flower Fairies Friends -- How to Host a Flower Fairy Tea Party

Author: Frederick Warne
Illustrations: Cicely Mary Barker

Published in 2005 by Warne Frederick & Company
ISBN10: 0723253609     ISBN13: 9780723253600


Have you ever been invited to a tea party? Have you ever hosted a tea party? How about having a guide book what was actually written by fairies for such an occasion. Well, in this book you will find help from the Kingcup Fairy and pretty Fairies who will help you throw the perfect tea party.



Here are a few secrets from the fairies to you...

The first project you get to make is butterfly invitations, the perfect way to share-the-date.

Everyone loves snacks so Fairy Strawberry shares her favourite Baked Strawberry Recipe and Fairy Holly suggests Christmas Tree Toasties for those tea parties held during the holiday season.

The Pink Fairies share decoration ideas, like tissue carnations, Candytuft's name cards and Pansy's Chair Wings.

Fairies Tansy, Guelder Rose and Kingcup help you with your fairy fashions ranging from outfits to tiara's and floral crowns. Oh and you can't forget, the yarn pom-poms for your shoes!

The last project is to make pop-up cards to say thank you to all of your fairy guests who attended.

In the very back of the book, Fairy Lavender includes a space for you to record all of your special memories.

This book is filled with beautiful patterns, instructions, ideas, 40+ stickers and a party planner list to help you along the way.




You can purchase this book through your local bookstore or on-line through Indigo.ca or Amazon.com. Be sure to check out the other three books written by Frederick Warne and illustrated by Cicely Mary Barker in this Flower Fairies Friends Collection.




Whether is be midsummer or during the winter holiday season, this book will help you host the perfect tea party for all of your fairy friends.

Book Review: What Kind of Fairy is Merry Berry?

Book Review ...

What Kind of Fairy is Merry Berry?

Author: Lindsey Renee
Illustrator: Lindsey Renee & Susan Reagan

Originally Published in 2010 by Chronicle Books
ISBN 9780811876858

... all you need to do is believe in yourself and your true fairy will emerge.


This story takes place in Lulaland where Merry Berry lives with her cat Pom Pom and she is about to take an adventure of a lifetime.


Merry Berry goes for a walk and finds herself is a very special neighbourhood, one she had never seen before. Meeting new friends along the way she is told the secret of what it takes to become a fairy. She couldn't believe that after her magical day she could have yet another surprise, a visit from her Guardian Angel's. These fairies help explain in more detail what Merry Berry needs to do to earn her wings. So she slowly drifts off to sleep (not without a lot trouble though) where she dreams of the things she loves to do. After sharing her special gift with her friends, Merry Berry's wishes comes true and a she receives a wonderful gift of a shimmering dress, sparkly slippers, a pretty bracelet, a magical wand and best of all the most beautiful fairy wings ever. What more could a girl ask for?

from www.mamamaryshow.com

This book is filled with colourful drawings and has splashes of sparkles throughout. The moral behind the story is one that is common sense and makes it easy to believe that becoming a fairy really can happen. And can't it after all? Don't we all have something special inside of us that makes us unique and different, of course we do.


Now tell me, what kind of fairy are you?



You can purchase this book through your local bookstore or online through Amazon.com and Amazon.ca.

Book Review: Pretty Petals Trilogy by Fiona Hayes

Book Review ...

Pretty Petals Trilogy

Author: Fiona Hayes
Illustrators: Chris Gaisey & Wojciech Kuzminski

Published in 2016 by Kappa
ISBN: not registered

This set of three brightly coloured, doubled sided, swivel board books are set in an enchanted glade where Fairies Lily, Bluebell, Daisy, Rose and the Fairy Queen play, sing, dance and celebrate summer.

The Enchanted Garden Party ...

In the Enchanted Glade, the fairies arrive in their finest clothes to play games and sing magical music. Fairy Daisy looks beautiful in her purple dress, Rose is busy making pretty hats, Bluebell and Lily are riding snails and playing find-the-fairy.


Midsummer Magic ...

Getting ready for a summer feast, Fairy Rose reminds everyone of the Midsummer's Day festival, while Lily adds sparkling fairy dust to the dew drops and Daisy chases away the clouds with her wand just in time for the arrival of the Fairy Queen.


A Midnight Feast for Fairies ...

Fairy Rose lights the way with her glowing wand so Bluebell, Daisy and Lily can bring their blueberries, biscuits and acorns filled with sweet nectar to the midnight fairy feast being held under the bright moon.

You can purchase them through your local bookstore or online through Amazon.com and Dollartree.com.

As I love to add little books to my faerie library, these 3 are ever so cute as you get to watch the fairies as they celebrate summer with garden parties, games, snacks and singing songs.

Book Review: Fairy Friends by Claire Freedman

Book Review ...

Fairy Friends

Author: Claire Freedman
Illustrator: Gail Yerrill

Published in 2007 by Little Tiger Press London
ISBN 10: 1845064666     13: 9781845064662

"Find a poem for YOUR best friend in this beautiful book about the friendships that fairies share."


This is a storybook about the importance of friendships whether you are a wee faerie or not. Drawn within patchwork borders, each page looks magical and enchanting as Ms. Yerrill has done an excellent job of sketching the cute expressive faces on the faeries as they each seem to be smiling right back at you. Told within the setting of pretty flower garden, Ms. Freedman tells a tale through a series of poems about the love that can be found when sharing with others. Throughout the book the faeries show you how to enjoy the fun days of summer including garden parties, finding fairy dust at the end of a rainbow and the hiding of tiny treasures.  



You can find this book at your library or you can purchase it through your local bookstore or online through both Amazon.ca and Amazon.uk. Ms. Freedman is a successful children's picture book author who resides in Essex, be sure to check out her acclaimed Aliens Love Underpants series too.

When picking out a new book for the Nursery's library, I guess I must be like any other faerie for as I look for the graphics, the colours and of course the uniqueness of a book and in this case who couldn't resist a cover that has purple and silver stars along with sparkly pink faerie dust floating in a bubble. I highly recommend this book to both children and adults as each verse told by Ms. Freedman brings with it a feeling of euphoria when explaining and depicting the beauty of friends and your friendships with them.

Book Review: Fairy Houses ... Everywhere by Barry & Tracy Kane

Book Review ...

Fairy Houses ... Everywhere

Authors: Barry & Tracy Kane

Originally Published in 2006 by Light Beams Publishing
ISBN 10:097081044X   ISBN 13:9780970810441


"... just turn these pages and discover a world filled with whimsical habitats constructed from natural materials."

Filled with beautiful photos of faerie houses that have been build in the woodlands, on the beach, in meadows, in backyard gardens and in the air you are transported to a land that only those that believe in faeries can actually see. It is like when you are told to 'stop and smell the roses', faerie houses are just the same, they can hide in plain sight but once you spot one you are always on the lookout for more.

This book not only shows tiny homes but it gives you a chance to see how with just an acorn, or a seashell, or a feather or even a pretty leaf can be put to good use when building a house. As the words nature and faerie are synonymous with each other, it is easy to see how with just a bit of imagination anyone and everyone can construct a dwelling made for the wee folk. It doesn't stop with just houses though, Barry & Tracy bring to life full little villages including boats made of seedpods docked on a lake, apartment buildings made from tree trunks, mansions with individual rooms decorated with miniatures, to seasonal homes of pumpkins and snowy boughs. Truly an inspiration to all those that are young at heart.



You can purchase this book through your local bookstore or online through both Chapters/Indigo and Amazon. Be sure to check out the rest of The Fairy Houses Series®: Fairy Houses, Fairy Houses ... Unbelievable!: A Photographic Tour, Fairy Houses and Beyond!, Fairy Flight, Fairy Boat, Forest Secrets: A Fairy Houses Mystery, Ocean Secrets: A Fairy Houses Mystery No. 2 and Kristen's Fairy House DVD.

I purchased this book way back when I had started my Faerie Nursery in 2011 thinking it was a great place to start to look for ideas for my faeries. Now, thanks to this book, I have a whole line of faerie doors and garden nurseries which just happen to cary you off into a land of magic, imagination and enchantment.

learning to read all over again

"There is not fairy-book half as wonderful as the lovely world all about us, if only we know how to read it."
Author: Morning Glories

the poem ~ adventure, romance, dreams and everything-in-between

the book ~ adventure, romance, dreams and everything-in-between

the dictionary ~ adventure, romance, dreams and everything-in-between

the *Siri ~ adventure, romance, dreams and everything-in-between

now tell me, is there a better way to learn than through a fairytale?

*Siri - Apple Inc. Voice Assistant Computer Program

A Fountain Pen and Pretty Paper

"The sounds of pages turning was the sound of magic. The dry liquid feel of the paper under the fingertips was what magic felt like."
Author: Emma Donoghue, 'Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins'

it's like having your own library, a library lined with shelves upon shelves filled with your memories.

it's like having your own poem, poems that when glued together become a treasury of sort, a treasury filled with your hopes.

it's like having pretty lined paper that can only be found in the diary hidden under your pillow, a diary filled with your dreams.

the library. the poem. the diary. the memories. the hopes. the dreams.

it is here, here where you keep your magic.

Wormhole

"If you ever find yourself in the wrong story, leave."

Author: Mo Willems,
'Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs'

The Best Rules to Follow

"There is no law stronger than that of magic. - Kian'

Author: Kialin Gow,
'Bitter Frost'

A Sparkly Rolling Pin

"Just roll me in fairy dust and call me a unicorn"

Author: Lita Burke,
'Ephraim's Curious Device'

Playing out-of-bounds

"It's fun to do the unexpected"

Author: Walt Disney Company,
'Nursery Rhymes & Fairy Tales'

The Thoughts and The Photos

For the week of October 20-24, 2014

Authors this week include:
Eloisa James, Audrey Hepburn, Nick Harkaway, Charliane Harris and P.J. Roscoe

Topics were for the most part very humorous, well except for today's posting...it was a nice one to end the week off on. We go all the way from gingerbread to fairy tales to ninjas, disposing of human all the way to remembering wonder.

I did have a good chuckle while posting these silly ones this week. Some days it is just nice to stop thinking of all of the busy things that are happening around us as every moment of everyday. It is hard to just stop. To close off your mind. To close off electronics..okay, but do this one after you have read this blog posting...please. To close off your worries. Perhaps we all just need that gentle reminder that it is okay to laugh. This laugh doesn't have to be in your 'outside' voice. This laugh can be done as simply as a smile. But truth be known, a smile goes a lot farther than a laugh. A smile is contagious (well so can a laugh be if you have one of this absolutely from the belly types), long lasting, something that can be shared with friends and strangers. So go ahead...smile as some of these 'Thoughts'....share a part of you that everyone can relate to.

I think the one that stands out the most is the quote for Audrey Hepburn. When you think of an iconic figure, and by all means they do not have to be in the acting profession, I am always amazed and humbled when you realize they are people too. People like you and I. People that still do the same similar things that I do in a day. People who have feelings, inner turmoil, friends, family, recognition for a job well done and of the course the most important one of them all...they just need to be loved. This need is ground into our minds, our hearts, our souls. What would we be without it? What would you be without the need to be loved?

'The Photo'

The nursery has been lucky enough to have an extended autumn this year. Even though most of the leaves have fallen off the trees there is still a colourful ground cover that can be seen. Most of the mornings have still included watching the dew drops glistening without being frozen yet. It is not normally until high noon before things start to melt but the water drops on the leaves can still be seen without ice crystals beginning to form. Another anomaly for this time of year is fog? The past couple of days have been quite unique and very fascinating. With the sky being greyed out and not being able to see down the road at some moments it certainly does bring an eerie feeling. The thing that I can relate to this site is when the forest fires of the summer bring linger smoke across the land (sometimes not so lingering but ummm...in your own backyard!). With this being October 24 it sure would be cool if this weather pattern stuck around for lets say exactly one more week! Who needs a smog/smoke machine for Halloween when nature has provided the perfect backdrop for that spooky look.

And our final note for this week is the reminder that 'The Thought' will be back here on Monday, October 27...as even wee faeries need some down time as well.

The 'Thoughts'

For the week of October 13-17, 2014

'The Thought'

Authors this week include:

Lita Burke, Awwthentic and William Butler Yeats

Topics were kind of all over the place as well!
The sizing up faeries in Ireland, finding faeries, unicorns, dull worlds and beautiful smiles. It seems as well that I doubled up on both Awwthentic and Yeats quotes...I guess that they must have had special meanings this week.

'The Photo'

Well this week was both the final sneak peeks and then finally the introduction of our first Holiday Limited Edition Faerie - Candy Cane. Surprisingly enough, this faerie seems to love the camera? I wished that I had more photos to share but she is still busy in the photo sets? Go figure...this one has a fascination with her candy cane striped dress that she just can't stop spinning around. I sure hope that she doesn't eventually fall over!

The rest of the week, well I tried to capture the happier parts of our northern Nursery and its first snowfall (okay, I will admit that this is not the first one for this winter as we have had snow every month this year!!) but this one I doubt will go away and is now here to stay. We still have wee pansies that are weighted down with so much sticky snow that they are trying their best to still show their colours. The next photo was one from our local bird feeder which wasn't exempt from the warm weather that over night of course plummeted...this left everything with a wonderful icy look to everything (unfortunately that meant the same for our sidewalks and roads turning everything to a pretty sheen of black ice).

I am sure that I will be able to finally the grab the camera or at least the memory card, now wouldn't that be terribly sneaky of me....Candy Cane can continue swirling with the camera pointed at her but there just won't be any 'film' in it....this should give me time to upload the photos that have already been taken and I hope to work on those over the weekend.

On that note...'The Photo' and the 'The Thought' will be back on Monday :)

The Week of October 6 - 10, 2014

Welcome, welcome, welcome to the week of October 6 - 10, 2014!!

The Quotes for this week have been from...
William O'Brien, 'Peter, Enchantment and Stardust: The Poems'
Awwthentic, 'The Prince and The Fairy'
Lucy Aisy
M. F. Moonzajer, 'A moment with God; Poetry'
Kailan Gow, 'Bitter Frost'

The Instagram postings for this week have been of...
Our new packaging
Hoarfrost
Holiday Edition

I am happy to say that our Website, Flickr and Pinterest pages have updated as well. I have opted to know type out the whole quote instead of just the author's name where noted. I even found out that on Flickr that you can add key words!! Granted, I did have difficulties figuring out what 'Tags' to use but I did manage to get a few in. I am presuming though, that I should start updating our Google+ page with these postings as well? All in due time I guess!! And of course, these 'Thoughts of the Day' will be posted once again on our Facebook page. For now, all of our impromptu Instagram photos are automatically put on our Flickr, Twitter and Tumblr accounts.

The Promise Fulfilled?

Yay!

Oh no not the Yay that you are thinking of sorry and....no not that this week is over either....but that it is time that I get to share with you the postings that were made both through the 'Thought of the Day' and Instagram updates for the week of September 29th through October 3rd, 2014.....

'Thought of the Day'

A. E. Housman, William Butler Yeats, Eleanor Roosevelt, Luna Lindsey and Jarod Kintz.

Instagram 

Faerie Goddess and the touch of Old Man Winter

If you wish to check them out...you can scroll up a bit to the menu bar and there they are right there...
The Thought and The Photo

Enjoy   :)

p.s. please note that these postings do not include weekends

Website Changes

I have decided to try to make my blog the 'hub' for anything and everything Fae.

You will notice that there are two new tabs located on the top menu bar ~~ NEWS and FAE

NEWS ~ will be updated as I find interesting and cool news items to share. Please feel free to share any news items that you find.

FAE ~ Faeries and Elementals -- this will become an encyclopaedia of the world of Fae. You are welcome to submit your definitions and upon approval each entry will be given full author credits.

I hope you enjoy my new features  :)


Faerie Amma