Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child (Kate Greenaway Medal Awards) - Hardcover

Graham, Bob

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763617725 ISBN 13: 9780763617721

Publisher: Candlewick, 2002

Synopsis

From the creator of MAX—a PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Best Book—comes a whimsical reminder that a family of fairies can be found in the unlikeliest of places, if you have the time to look

Annabelle’s dad has little time for fairies, which he assures her she won’t find in the cement and the weeds of their urban backyard. But Annabelle has lots of time, so she keeps looking - even under her baby brother, Sam. And one day she finds what she’s looking for: a thumb-sized fairy child named Jethro Byrd, whose family has made an awkward landing in a tiny ice cream truck among some discarded bottles and cans. What a wonderful chance to invite all the Byrds for tea with Mommy and Daddy! But why, Annabelle wonders - as the fairies fiddle and sing and dance and whistle away among the cake crumbs - are she and Sam the only ones who can see them?

Bob Graham is back, as magical as ever, with a wry tale about the rewards of paying attention - and the marvelous discoveries to be made by seeing the world through the wide-open eyes of a child.

About this title

About the Author:

Bob Graham is the award-winning author and illustrator of many books for children, including MAX, an acclaimed story about a family of superheroes who can fly. About JETHRO BYRD, FAIRY CHILD, he says, "I’m surprised to find another flying family in my books, this time a family of fairies. I don’t see fairies too often these days, certainly not during working hours. To see fairies you need time to spare, time to think about not too much at all."

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 2-A girl spends all of her free time searching for fairies in the scraggly grass and dirt that line the concrete path of her family's urban home. Like most adults, "Annabelle's dad had little time for fairies. 'you won't find fairies in cement and weeds-as far as I know.'" Yet on a warm summer day, the child sees something hit the fence and bounce off the driveway. "There she met a boy-as big as her finger. He hitched up his jeans, flew onto a leaf, and wiped his nose on the back of his sleeve. '[I'm] Jethro Jethro Byrd I'm a Fairy Child.'" Much to Annabelle's delight, Jethro and his family agree to stay for some tea and cake. Her mother plays along, and agrees to make some tea for her guests, even though she and her husband cannot see them. After tea, the fairies must move on, but Annabelle is changed by the meeting. Graham's charming watercolor-and-ink artwork has muted shadows and an affectionate softness that complement the magical undertones of the story. One spread shows a crouching Annabelle, grand and gargantuan, holding Jethro's father on her pinky, while Jethro, his mother, and grandmother flit about nearby. Pair this with Hans Christian Andersen's "Thumbelina," or use it to introduce John Peterson's "The Littles" (Scholastic) to a new generation of fairy seekers.
Lisa Gangemi Kropp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0763617725
• ISBN 13: 9780763617721
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Graham Bob