The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies - Hardcover

Paquette, Ammi-Joan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 193371820X ISBN 13: 9781933718200

Publisher: Tanglewood, 2009

Synopsis

What better way to celebrate the wonderful world of nature all around us than a hunt for local fairies? Children learn to spot the tell-tale signs of fairies in residence in this delightful mix of photos and illustrations. Then children can take their tracking skills outside to discover the magic in their own backyard. A perfect book for spring or summer!

About this title

About the Author

Ammi-Joan has been writing stories since early childhood. She and her sister would spend hours creating masterpieces of stapled paper and handwritten words, complete with pen-and-ink covers and boxed illustrations. Her favorite part of the process was creating a list for the back cover: “Don’t miss the other books in this series!” That list of eye-catching titles always seemed like way less work than (hand) writing out a whole book. But isn’t that just the way of things? Ammi lives with her husband and two daughters in the Boston area. Her first picture book, The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies, was published in 2009, and she has continued to write (and agent) books for children and young adults.

Christa Unzner is an illustrator living in Berlin who has worked on over 100 children’s books. Her work is predominately in pen and ink, however, in 2002 she started adding digital elements. Thematically, in addition to classic children’s books, she focuses on fairy tales and legends, as well as works of world literature for children and young people.

Reviews

PreSchool-Grade 2—This story informs readers that fairies are just about everywhere, if they know how to look. The art is composed of photographs juxtaposed with cartoonlike drawings of the magical creatures. For example, an image of a field of tulips, with fairies peeking out here and there, is accompanied by text that reads, "Fairies love flowers. These tulips would be just right for playing hide-and-seek. Curled up inside, a fairy could not be spotted by anyone." Paquette encourages readers to help the sprites by doing things like blowing dandelion fluff to make a pillow or moving a rock to make a pool. A positive quality of this book is that it seeks to inspire children to notice the magnificent natural world in their own backyard or neighborhood.—Linda M. Kenton, Pickleweed Public Library, San Rafael, CA END

Fairies have hiding places, and this “guide” shows their many admirers how to find signs that they are in the neighborhood. Primarily composed of pictures that mix original art with photographs, the book portrays fairies playing hide-and-seek in tulips; sleeping on dandelion fluff pillows; and riding bareback on a chipmunk. The text’s personal tone invites children in—“It’s a perfect day for tracking fairies!”—and there is a lot to see. Kids will enjoy spotting the fantastical creatures hiding here and there amongst the flora and fauna of the outdoor settings, but the cartoonish look of many of the fairies may disappoint. More successful is the way the book finds fairy uses for natural items like acorns and flowers. Fairy lovers may find this guide will spark their own imaginations and writings. Preschool-Grade 2. --Ilene Cooper

Edition details

• Publisher: Tanglewood
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 193371820X
• ISBN 13: 9781933718200
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Unzner Christa
• Number of pages: 32