THE BEAR FAIRY

A boy is surprised to discover that fairies aren’t always what one might expect.

Spencer wants to trap a fairy, but Mariah knows about these creatures and tells him he’ll never catch one (“They’re for beautiful little girls like me”). When Spencer traps a real one, he’s shocked to learn that some fairies have luscious brown fur and an insatiable desire for chips. Though the “Bear Fairy” is a rather disruptive house guest, Spencer endures the chaos because he can’t wait to prove to Mariah he’s caught a real fairy. But Mariah has a not-so-nice response to Spencer’s magical new pal. Per Mariah, the “pudgy,” hirsute Bear Fairy doesn’t measure up. But Spencer stands up for his unconventional fairy friend, declaring, “He is MY fairy. And he’s perfect the way he is.” Mixing text passages and speech bubbles, this story is packed with puns and silliness. The characters have expressive faces, and the brightly colored, scribbly cartoon art is lively with movement, as when Spencer and the fairy play at the park or during the debate about how fairies should look. With its loving message of inclusivity, this book will be a hit with preschool and early grade school readers, and adult readers will probably have a few laughs, too. Spencer is pale-skinned and red-haired; Mariah has light brown skin and dark hair.

A wacky fairy story with wide appeal that’s sure to give readers the giggles—and leave them craving chips.