Amazon.com Review
Long the spritely subject of myth and folklore, it seems that even today fairies are alive and well, flitting about on the fringes of what we consider reality. Suza Scalora collects the evidence in
The Fairies: Photographic Evidence of the Existence of Another World, presenting color-drenched photographs of fairies captured by her stealthy lens. After seeing her first fairy, "a small green creature with delicate yellow wings that sparkled in the sun," she went on a mission: "I set out across the world to catalog and photograph every fairy I could find." Indeed, each ethereal being is carefully classified by its common name, other names, sighting date and location, and history. For fellow fairy fanciers, peak sighting seasons and lures are also provided (pencils attract Eugenie, the Emerald Forest Fairy, while black volcanic sand is required for Ophelia, the Pearl-White Fairy). Whether you're a believer or not, the prints are truly beautiful, and Scalora's passionate, detailed descriptions will at least make you want to consider the possibility that these diminutive creatures exist. Fairy aficionados will also want to check out Brian Froud's much acclaimed
Faeries and its lovely sequel,
Good Faeries, Bad Faeries.
--Brangien Davis
From School Library Journal
Grade 5 Up-This glossy book presents startlingly clear, vibrant color photos of "fairies." Each slick, stylized picture has a pseudoscientific description on the opposite page, including the common name of each creature, sighting date, location, peak sighting season, history, lure, and notes. For example, readers learn that Ariel, the Crimson Sky Fairy or Evening Dream Fairy, "comes from a large class of air fairies that inhabit different parts of the sky and land" and can be lured by "Fireflies released into the wind." There is no story here, but Scalora's introduction offers a rather convincing explanation of her fascination with elusive creatures and how she came to create this book. Some of the photographs are charming; others are eerie or frightening. One has to admire the technique and effort, but in the end, the package is nothing but a clever gimmick. The illustrations are stunning, but this is coffee-table fare and much too sophisticated for children.
Beth Tegart, Oneida City Schools, NY Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
