Customer Reviews

Come to the Fairies' Ball

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wonderful! I loved the marriage of rhyme and illustration. Each page is a treasure of story and imaginative art. You'll find yourself pouring over each page, losing yourself in the detail. Yolen's writing is superb, filled with sing-song adjectives and verbs that making reading this story out loud a real treat. For lovers of fairies and fairy tales this is a keeper that belongs right next to the classic fairy tales in your bookcase.

For fairy lovers this magical tale is full of delighful illustrations and a timeless story. The detailed pictures are beautifully rendered and full of amazing detail.

Both my kindergartener and I enjoy Jane Yolen's books for children, and when we came across this title at our local library, we knew we had to read it (my daughter also happens to love all things connected to fairies). This was such an amazing read! The rhymes appear simple, yet tell a wonderful tale of a fairies' ball where all the fairies in fairyland have been invited to the grand ball given by the King and Queen of Fairyland. The invitations caution the fairies not to be late. Here is where the rhyming poem/story gets interesting - there is a young fairy who has torn her gown for the ball and is left feeling sad and desperate, what is she to do? Fortunately some ant friends step in to help her, though by the time her new dress is finished, it may be too late for her to attend the ball.

The poem is simple yet manages to convey all the busy preparations that go into getting ready for the ball, and the excitement is palpable. The highlight of the book though is the intricate and gorgeous full-color illustrations of the fairy land by illustrator Gary Lippincott. I have read many beautifully-illustrated fairy stories/ books in my time, and this has to be one of the most exquisitely illustrated books on fairies. Each page brims with details of a magical and fantastical world inhabited by fairies of all kinds - elves, brownies, gnomes, goblins, they are all depicted here in great detail. My daughter and I were mesmerized and could not take our eyes off each page - there is one page where the fairies are all riding off to the ball, there are several in a carriage pulled by a hare, some who are flown via butterfly chairs, and others piggybacking on a turtle. The details and colors almost leap off the page! Of course, another highlight was the depiction of the ball itself in all its resplendent glory. We are so in love with this book that I am purchasing it for our home library. A must-have for anyone who loves the fae folk:)

This book is a feast for the ears and eyes! The verses rhyme and are as fun to read as they are to hear. The pictures are beautiful and detailed and invite for searches of items as well. A wonderful " bed time book" for children, as well as adults, especially if they are fairy crazy! After borrowing this book from our local library , I promptly purchased one for my daughter and one for a friend of hers. I would highly recommend this book!

My children and I loved the illustrations in this book.
They are bright, fun and give honor to the fairies.

The story is a Cinderella spin-off and while we are huge Yolen fans, I think that the text could have used more editing.

But overall a delight to look at!

I don't normally read books like this. I am not a fan of fantasy-type reading. However, this story delighted and entertained me. I enjoyed the simple story line but I most enjoyed the artwork and the images used to accompany the text. This is the type of story that removes you from reality and makes you wish you could go and visit this fantastic fairyland.

I recently purchased this book for my granddaughter. We love fairies and everything that comes with them. The artwork in this book is so beautiful, so detailed it takes over the story. My granddaughter has more fun finding the hidden fairies than in the actual story itself, which is a good one. Its the artwork that will sell this book, though.