Twinkle's Fairy Pet Day

November 1, 2020
A young fairy learns that wishes don't always meet expectations. Twinkle and her friends each long for a pet. Fairy Godmother decides they are old enough and makes their wishes come true. Pippa's pet spell summons a fluttering butterfly. Lulu casts her spell, and a ladybug appears. Twinkle's spell seems harmless enough: "Abracadabra, skiddledee-day, / my pet loves to run and play!" But with a crash from the fireplace, out tumbles a plump, feisty dragon. Twinkle was hoping for something a little more fluffy and cuddly. Twinkle tries to train her boisterous (and at times naughty) pet. Her words are polite--"Please fetch the ball now, Scruffy"--but frustration is apparent in her knitted brow and frown. Scruffy pays her no mind. There is no way Scruffy will win anything at the upcoming Fairy Pet Day! Luckily, with a few small words of encouragement--"Just do your best, Scruffy"--the little dragon steals the show. Warburton's delicate world, complete with floating fairy dust and magic sparkle bursts, lifts Holabird's somewhat cumbersome plot into a light and buoyant confection. Twinkle, Lulu, and Fairy Godmother present White, and Pippa, one of a small minority of fairies of color, presents Black. Scruffy has a round snout and little wings and is green with pink spots. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 41.4% of actual size.) Unconditional love prevails--under a thick coating of pink. (Picture book. 3-6)

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December 1, 2020

PreS-K-Pets can be cute and fun, but they require hard work, too. When Twinkle and her fairy friends Pippa and Lulu are finally old enough to take care of a pet, Fairy Godmother offers to grant each a pet of her own. Pippa receives a butterfly, Lulu gets a ladybug, and Twinkle finds herself with a dragon, which is not what she had hoped for. Nevertheless, Twinkle prepares her dragon for the upcoming Fairy Pet Day, where the two unlikely companions bring out the best in each other. From the first page, this book is saturated in pink and resplendent with sparkles, featuring the three young fairies and their Fairy Godmother-they have light skin, with the exception of Pippa, who has dark skin. Whimsical illustrations of forest animals appear on the endpapers and immediately transport readers into a wonderland. Mid-length text blends narration and dialogue to create an ideal structure for preschool emerging readers. Because the images are so detailed, however, this book is better suited to a lap read than a story time setting. The placement of text and images is expertly designed, flowing easily from one page to the next. Fans of Angelina Ballerina will appreciate this new story from Holabird. VERDICT Little fairies will enjoy this vibrant, cheery tale about love and encouragement.-Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver P.L.

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