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Summary
Summary
Clara's dream is to become a Christmas fairy, whose job it is to stay still atop the tree.
Clara's dream is to become a Christmas fairy, whose job it is to stay still atop the tree. But when Christmas lesson time rolls around at fairy school, things don't go quite as planned. Clara's so excited that she can't possibly be still and quiet like a fairy should. Although she tries her best, at heart she's still a wriggly, giggly chatterbox who likes nothing more than making people smile. But when it's time for the big Christmas Show, it looks like that's exactly the kind of fairy Santa needs to help him save the day. At last, Clara can put her talents to good use, and it soon becomes clear that there's more than one way to be a Christmas fairy! This rhyming text from the pair behind The Fairiest Fairy is sure to have readers in a festive mood.
Author Notes
Anne Booth is the author of The Fairiest Fairy . She lives in Kent, England, with her husband, four children, two hens, and two dogs.
Rosalind Beardshaw is the illustrator of many books for children, including The Fairiest Fairy , Box , and Just Right for Christmas . She loves creating new characters, especially if they can be based loosely/wholly on her dog, Basil. She lives with her partner and children in York, England.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-Little Clara is learning to be a "proper Christmas fairy." She and her three smiling, round-headed classmates are all young girls with wings. Miss Petal, a grown woman who also has wings, instructs them to "stand like statues" while holding "a fairy pose" and maintaining silence. Since the rhyming tale begins by telling readers that Clara is a lively chatterbox, it is no surprise when she doesn't live up to expectations. Just as she loses confidence, Santa asks her to save the Christmas show after the performers have all taken ill or had mishaps. With no preparation, she saves the show because she is so naturally special. Santa then explains that "not every Christmas fairy has to stand still on a tree." Nevertheless, the story ends with Clara posing at the top of a tree with her presumably more suited-to-the-task classmates in the lower branches. The illustrations are bright and charming, the rhyme works well, and the layout is attractive and readable, yet the premise is troubling. Why do these young fairies aspire to be living ornaments? The conflict is of little consequence and the resolution far too convenient (and pointless). VERDICT A lovely piece of holiday fluff for those who desire effortless cuteness.-Linda Israelson, Los Angeles Public Library © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Young Clara wants to be a proper Christmas tree fairy, but every time she tries to hold still at school she sings, dances, or laughs instead. Just as Clara's given up hope, Santa solicits her help for the Christmas show, which needs a special fairy just like her. The rhyming text's lilting quality keeps the story light and jovial alongside jewel-toned mixed-media illustrations. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A redheaded fairy named Clara and her three friends attend fairy school to prepare for a performance in a Christmas show. The four fairy friends look like preschool-age little girls with the addition of butterfly-shaped wings, but these fairies haven't yet learned to fly. Clara has red, curly hair and a bubbly personality, demonstrated by her love of singing, dancing, and playacting. She and her friends attend Miss Petal's school to learn to be Christmas fairies, with the goal of posing as ornaments hanging on a Christmas tree. Two of Clara's friends have brown skin and dark hair (one kinky and the other straight); Clara and the other characters are white. Clara likes to twirl and dance and has trouble being silent and holding a pose as Miss Petal instructs her to, like "a proper fairy on a Christmas tree." On the day of the performance, Santa asks Clara for her help with the show because the animal performers are all sick or injured. Clara saves the show with her talents, gaining confidence, and the story ends with the fairies posing silently as Christmas fairies on a huge, outdoor tree decorated by Santa. This sudden conformity undercuts Clara's success. While the illustrations are charming, the rhyming story has a singsong quality and some forced cheeriness in describing Clara's antics. Learning to be quiet, stay still, and hold a pose while looking pretty aren't particularly desirable goals for modern fairiesor today's young girls. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
