How does one go about catching a fairy? I might have a secret weapon as I have a corgi which, according to ancient lore, was the favored mount of fairies. These children don't have a corgi, though, just their wits. Besides, the Fairy Godmother, whose face we actually don't see until the very end, seems to travel in her very own bubble, so no corgis needed. Cool, huh? She's brand new at her job and, based on the illustrations of her fairy training days, is occasionally a bit of a mess. She has smarts, however, and genuinely seems to care about her young, creative charges, even praising some of their efforts to catch her. She also seems to have patience and a fun sense of humor, both handy when dealing with children. In other words, this Fairy Godmother sounds like someone we'd all like on our side.
This is a fun, whimsical story. Not only is it likely young readers can have fun following the children's failed attempts to capture the fairy, but they're likely to be able to spy something new in the pictures each time the story is read or read to them. The rhymes flow and the expressions on the children's faces add to the sense of fun. I liked that the diverse bunch included a child wearing glasses. Having spent much of my childhood in despair over having the wear glasses, he pretty quickly became my favorite. And, hey, this is no fairy tale fairy. She's wearing sneakers! Nice touch.
Bottom line, this is my first "How to Catch..." book but won't be my last. The sense of whimsy and fun made me smile as I read. It's even up-to-date as the children's goal is to capture the fairy in a selfie, never mind they don't grasp what actually capturing her might mean. They simply focus on the ideal Show-and-Tell selfie. Their schemes are fun, meaning no harm, and, who knows, with a less savvy fairy might have been successful. What does one do with a fairy if they catch them? Hmm, no clue. In any case, this Fairy Godmother begins the story a bit unsure of herself, a fun way to remind children that we're all uncertain about some things, but does her best with humor and doesn't forget to applaud others' efforts. She even rewards them at the end, which is when we get our first look at her face. I like this Fairy Godmother. Thanks #NetGalley and #SourcebooksKids - #SourcebooksExplore for introducing me to this series and revving up my retired teacher mind. Oh, so many teaching moments within. Fun book/series and can't wait to explore it further.
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