Fairy Dusters and Blazing Stars

February 1, 1995
Gr 1-3-This wonderfully whimsical walk through some of the wildflowers that grace the North American continent will ignite the interest and imagination of young readers. Beginning with ""Fairy Lanterns"" lighting their way, the journey is colorful, informative, and fun. The ""Fairy Lanterns"" are pictured in a scene at dusk with vivid yellow flowers being tended by lace-winged fairies. This saunter through the forest and field takes many liberties with names such as Monkeyflower, Skyrocket, Indian Pipe, and Lady Slipper, letting each name inspire a feast for young eyes. The illustrations, bold and inventive, sing with color as they invite children to consider the implications of the names of popular and generally common plants. Some may find the transformations of these plants to fairies, Indians, or animals to be misleading, but it is all in fun and will serve to give children a way to personalize their knowledge of nature. A picture glossary of the wildflowers with scientific names, flowering time, range, and habitat is appended. A short list of references rounds out the experience.-Steve Matthews, Foxcroft School, Middleburg, VA