Dixie is a fairy and afraid to fly. It does not help that all the other fairies in Dixie's garden have four wings and she has only two. A sweet story about courage and triumph and overcoming one's perceived limitations.
The Small Press Book that's Receiving National Attention!
"Sheri Hood's story is imaginatively sweet." --book review.com
"Told in rhyme that does not miss a beat..."-- Kirkus
"...begs to be read out loud..."--Norm Goldman, bookpleasures.com
"M. Faith Shaheen's illustrations are delicately whimsical." --bookreview.com
Excerpt
"The ants and bees, they tried to help
But everytime she'd flop
She'd only make it inches up
Before her bottom dropped!"
Professional Reviews
From Kirkus
In this delightful picture book, Dixie the Fairy overcomes her fears to save a friend. Dixie has a problem--while fairies in Pixie Land are usually born with four wings, she has only two, and this causes her to get all tangled up and quit in defeat whenever she tries to fly. But when a bumblebee is swept away in the river, Dixie decides that her friend's predicament is more important than her fears. In choosing to forget herself, she gains enough strength to fly to the rescue. Shaheen's illustrations provide just the right touch, particularly when imparting expressions of sympathy and encouragement in Dixie's bug friends, portraying surprise on a fish's face and depicting how Dixie plucked up the drenched bee, "grabbed him by his fuzzy stuff" and saved the day. Told in rhyme that does not miss a beat, this charming story delivers its moral with a light touch and gentle humor. Dixie is a heroine who chooses to be strong despite her insecurities and limitations, and learns to be happy with who she is, making this a tale that deserves to be read and reread many times over. A good choice for young children who love fairies, and for parents and teachers who appreciate a valuable lesson delivered with wisdom and whimsy.
Bookreview.com
Dixie is a fairy who has a challenge among all of the graceful fairies in the Land-of-Pixie: she has only two wings while all the others have four. Dixie tries and tries but is unable to stay up in the air when her two wings get jumbled in the wind. One day Dixie finds herself in a situation where she must face up to her fear of failure in order to save someone in danger. In the process she deals with her doubts about whether she's a worthy fairy or whether she should keep wishing to be something she's not. Sheri Hood's story is imaginatively sweet and the rhymes are unpredictable and appealing. The message of challenging oneself and facing one's fears gives the book depth and allows the story to be more than just pretty pictures and catchy rhymes. M. Faith Shaheen's illustrations are delicately whimsical and flow elegantly with the story. As a whole, a pleasure to read.
Today, Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com
One of the most striking characteristics of Sheri Hoods’ children’s book The Fearful Fairy is the delicate manner in which it integrates large ideas into story form for the early school crowd.
As in most picture books, this one likewise functions on more than one level. The obvious story, which begs to be read aloud with its delightful descriptive language, spotlights a fairy born in the “Land-of-Pixie who everyone called Dixie.” Sadly, Dixie was born with only two wings and not four, as is the case with most other fairies. As a result, Dixie encountered great difficulty in flying, and even though the ants and bees tried to help her, she flopped every time, only making “it inches up, before her bottom dropped!”
Feeling sorry for herself, Dixie wished she were an elf, for “they haven’t any wings at all.” Although her wish was not fulfilled, something else cropped up when she witnessed a clumsy bumblebee nearly drowning in a river, after it had overshot a flowerbed, where it had originally intended to land. The poor bumblebee cried out for help, and as we all know, bumblebees don’t know how to swim. Dixie, noticing the danger of the situation and forgetting about her own disability, comes to the rescue of the bumblebee. As a result of her bravery, Dixie becomes quite a heroine among the bee community, however, in her mind it really wasn’t such a big deal, as after all, “It’s what a fairy does!”
Hood’s sensitive acknowledgement of the fairy’s disability does well when expressing her stress and confusion. In exploring the theme of overcoming one’s fears and deficiencies, no matter how difficult they may seem, The Fearful Fairy teaches a gentle lesson that cleverly sends an inspiring and encouraging message to children with disabilities. In addition, Hood sends a meaningful message in her ending that by helping someone else we are often rewarded, even though we never expected anything in return.
M. Faith Shaheen’s exuberant and luminous watercolors are impressive, infusing the narrative with energy and warmth, supporting the simplicity of the story. It is moreover noticeable for bringing the text unity and coherence without being too cartoonish and making the story more enjoyable. The mostly full-page images are filled with little details that will surely amuse children and adults alike. Particularly effective is when the bee lands in the river and the one where Dixie rescues the bee.
The Fearful Fairy is a quality picture book with a theme that is timeless and important. I hope we will be hearing more from these two up-and-coming talents.
Gemma succeeds in starting a girls' football team at her new school, but bitter rival Tyrone does everything he can to stop the girls playing. So begins a battle of wits between the girls and boys, and also between Gemma and sports teacher, Mrs Lawfo
