Fairy Wings: A Story (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Dennis Nolan (Illustrator) "Once, when the trees and flowers grew as they pleased, there lived a host of the tiniest, most delicate fairies..." (more)
Key Phrases: fairy boy, May Dance

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Mills (Elfabet) and Nolan (Dinosaur Dream) pack everything but the glass slippers into this dainty sylvan romance starring a wingless fairy. Fia endures the disdain of her arrogant sisters and their high-brow society, "flying" inelegantly about the woodland on the wings of Crow and playing with Rat and Frog. But when the dreaded slobbering troll crashes the May Dance (from which Fia has been bounced) and snares the flying folk, Fia and her outcast friends come to the rescue. Fia's heroism occurs within the familiar plot of an incognito prince who admires the ragamuffin fairy's independence and self-respect, and the tale, not surprisingly, ends with a wedding. Mills embroiders the text with a raft of fairy paraphernalia likely to captivate the dollhouse set: Fia fashions a tiny boat from the discarded eggshell of a goose and uses a holly leaf as her oar; Fia's mother weaves a dress from "the finest milkweed down"; etc. The watercolor illustrations, a sort of sugary step-child of Arthur Rackham's work, push the book toward greeting-card charm. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3?Lovely illustrations, reminiscent of Arthur Rachkam's ethereal style, are weighted down by a pedestrian plot. Fia is the only fairy without wings. Shunned because of her difference, she amuses herself by befriending woodland creatures and creating alternative modes of transport. When she meets a handsome young stranger who invites her to the annual May Dance, fairy-tale fans will quickly guess that he is a prince. Daunted at first by her sisters' petty cruelty, Fia overcomes her fears and attends the dance with the help of Frog, Crow, and Rat. Prince Hyacinth welcomes her, but his parents' objection causes her to leave in disgrace. She redeems herself, however, when she prevents the fairies' loss of their wings at the hands of a troll. The story ends with the promise of a wedding. While young readers may enjoy the appealing illustrations and feel some sympathy for Fia, the lengthy text, predictability of the plot, and shallow characterization all combine to weaken the book's appeal. Wait for a more successful collaboration from this undeniably talented couple.?Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 1 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown and Company; 1st edition (September 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316573973
• ISBN-13: 978-0316573979
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #639,374 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars delightful tale, wonderful pictures, October 8, 2002

By	M. Lilliquist (Bellingham, Washington USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the story of a little fairy named Fia, who, unlike all the other fairies, was born without wings. The other fairies tend to avoid her out of embarassment or discomfort, even her sisters. And while her parents are always loving, Fia must find her friends among the little animals. All this changes after she befriends one fairy boy, who later turns out to be the Prince; and after Fia bravely journeys to the Troll's cave to rescue all the other fairies, who have been captured by the Troll so that he might cut off their wings for his collection. Reminiscent of Rudolph the Reindeer, everyone changes their opinion of Fia after her heroism.

I read this story to my 4 1/2 year old daughter, and she really liked it. I imagine that this was primarily due to the wonderful, luminous illustrations. Although there are illustrations on every page, there is also a lot of text to go along with it, perhaps more than the patience of many younger kids can handle. The ideal ages would probably be from age 6 through 10.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Winner of the Golden Kite Award for Illustration, August 17, 2001

By	Brenda S. Weeaks "MyShelf.Com" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fairy Wings (Paperback)

Little Fia is the youngest fairy in a family of eight sisters; her sisters have lovely wings, she has none. Fia's seven sisters have compassion for her lack of wings, but they disapprove of her earthly behavior and the animals she has befriended, which are a frog, a rat, and a crow. It's time for the May Dance, and the fairies will be showing off their wings in the reflection of Puffers Pond near Troll's Wood. Fia has reconciled to being left out again. While sharing a new creation with rat, Fia runs into a boy fairy named Kip. He invites her to the dance, and she accepts. Will she be brave enough to follow through? Will the May Dance be safe near Troll's Wood where the wing-collecting Troll lives?

Fairy Wings is a creatively written, artistically illustrated tale. The story is memorable, and little Fia, delicate in appearance, is valiant in thought and deed. She is a great role model. Fairy Wings is enjoyable for all ages, including adults. Getting through this 30-page wonder will take longer than you think; each illustration is wonderfully done, and will demand ample attention before you can turn to the next.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fairy Wings is a beautiful twist on a classic tale, July 10, 1999

By A Customer

Set in the tiny world of fairies and goblins, Fairy Wings presents a beautiful rendition of the classic Cinderella story. The authors manage to weave a tale which will delite children of all ages while still maintaining the integrity of a brilliant literary work. Parents will love the vivid descriptions and advanced language which are often missing from children's literature. And if the story-line is simply not enough to move your spirit, the exquisite illustrations will certainly draw you into this heart-touching "fairy" tale.