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Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child
From the creator of MAX—a PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Best Book—comes a whimsical reminder that a family of fairies can be found in the unlikeliest of places, if you have the time to look
Annabelle’s dad has little time for fairies, which he assures her she won’t find in the cement and the weeds of their urban backyard. But Annabelle has lots of time, so she keeps looking - even under her baby brother, Sam. And one day she finds what she’s looking a thumb-sized fairy child named Jethro Byrd, whose family has made an awkward landing in a tiny ice cream truck among some discarded bottles and cans. What a wonderful chance to invite all the Byrds for tea with Mommy and Daddy! But why, Annabelle wonders - as the fairies fiddle and sing and dance and whistle away among the cake crumbs - are she and Sam the only ones who can see them?
Bob Graham is back, as magical as ever, with a wry tale about the rewards of paying attention - and the marvelous discoveries to be made by seeing the world through the wide-open eyes of a child.
Annabelle’s dad has little time for fairies, which he assures her she won’t find in the cement and the weeds of their urban backyard. But Annabelle has lots of time, so she keeps looking - even under her baby brother, Sam. And one day she finds what she’s looking a thumb-sized fairy child named Jethro Byrd, whose family has made an awkward landing in a tiny ice cream truck among some discarded bottles and cans. What a wonderful chance to invite all the Byrds for tea with Mommy and Daddy! But why, Annabelle wonders - as the fairies fiddle and sing and dance and whistle away among the cake crumbs - are she and Sam the only ones who can see them?
Bob Graham is back, as magical as ever, with a wry tale about the rewards of paying attention - and the marvelous discoveries to be made by seeing the world through the wide-open eyes of a child.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2002
69 people want to read
About the author
Bob Graham
91 books84 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
An Australian children's author and illustrator. His books include Max, which won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Gold Award, Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child, which won the Kate Greenaway Medal, and "Let's Get A Pup!" Said Kate which won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
An Australian children's author and illustrator. His books include Max, which won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Gold Award, Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child, which won the Kate Greenaway Medal, and "Let's Get A Pup!" Said Kate which won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
August 3, 2023
So yes, I originally read Bob Graham's Jethro Bryd, Fairy Child a couple of years ago, and while I most definitely have enjoyed the story, I actually do not remember all that much about the specific, the minute details, so I guess, it did not, in the end, actually leave all that much of an impression on me (either positive or negative). And while I do indeed very much appreciate that Jethro Byrd is a fairy boy and that the Byrd family is gifted with music and musical talent (as there simply exist far far too many fairy type stories featuring dainty female entities à la Tinkerbelle), honestly, since Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child is primarily a narrative about Jethro's discovery by Annabelle (a little girl) and their growing increasingly strong friendship, I really do think that the book title should certainly have also included the latter's name, that both Annabelle and Jethro’s names should have been mentioned.
Now the general plot-line of Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child is sweet and evocative, although that supposedly only children can see and appreciate fairies, that adults are supposedly much too busy and have seemingly lost that magical ability, well I for one do indeed think that this is rather a stereotypical, repetitive (and even mildly annoying) concept (albeit I do appreciate that even though Annabelle's parents are unable to see the fairies in the garden, they both still enable their daughter's belief, they play along, they do not attempt to show or demonstrate to Annabelle that fairies do not and cannot exist).
Finally, as to the accompanying illustrations (which are also by Bob Graham), they are bright, expressive and lively. Presenting both reality and magic, both "fairydom" and "humandom" they compliment the presented narrative successfully and indeed also with a sense of delight and humour. However, I would also not in any way ever consider Bob Graham’s drawings for Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child as being personal favourites, since especially Annabelle seems somewhat if not even overly much too un-childlike in her physical appearance (her mannerisms, her spiritual and emotional being, as presented by the text, are clearly those of a child, of an imaginative little girl who loves fairies and believes in them, but the manner in which she is depicted, in which she is illustrated by Bob Graham on paper, makes her, at least for and to me, appear rather too old for her years, and actually perhaps even a bit boy-like, a bit masculine, especially with regard to her facial features and hairdo).
And ha, ha, ha, but ever since I read Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child, I for some strange reason keep thinking (and continuously, over and over again at that) that the title of the book is Jethro Tull, Fairy Child (just so very odd and I do hope that die-hard Jethro Tull fans will not be in any way offended at and by this), but perhaps the fact that the Byrd family, including young Jethro, are all musicians (like Jethro Tull) has something to do with this.
Now the general plot-line of Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child is sweet and evocative, although that supposedly only children can see and appreciate fairies, that adults are supposedly much too busy and have seemingly lost that magical ability, well I for one do indeed think that this is rather a stereotypical, repetitive (and even mildly annoying) concept (albeit I do appreciate that even though Annabelle's parents are unable to see the fairies in the garden, they both still enable their daughter's belief, they play along, they do not attempt to show or demonstrate to Annabelle that fairies do not and cannot exist).
Finally, as to the accompanying illustrations (which are also by Bob Graham), they are bright, expressive and lively. Presenting both reality and magic, both "fairydom" and "humandom" they compliment the presented narrative successfully and indeed also with a sense of delight and humour. However, I would also not in any way ever consider Bob Graham’s drawings for Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child as being personal favourites, since especially Annabelle seems somewhat if not even overly much too un-childlike in her physical appearance (her mannerisms, her spiritual and emotional being, as presented by the text, are clearly those of a child, of an imaginative little girl who loves fairies and believes in them, but the manner in which she is depicted, in which she is illustrated by Bob Graham on paper, makes her, at least for and to me, appear rather too old for her years, and actually perhaps even a bit boy-like, a bit masculine, especially with regard to her facial features and hairdo).
And ha, ha, ha, but ever since I read Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child, I for some strange reason keep thinking (and continuously, over and over again at that) that the title of the book is Jethro Tull, Fairy Child (just so very odd and I do hope that die-hard Jethro Tull fans will not be in any way offended at and by this), but perhaps the fact that the Byrd family, including young Jethro, are all musicians (like Jethro Tull) has something to do with this.
April 9, 2012
Love, love, love this story! Bob Graham is fast becoming one of my favorite children's book authors/illustrators. His "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate was one of my favorites last year. April and Esme Tooth Fairies is another adorable title. Graham said he was surprised to find himself writing about another flying family with Jethro Byrd, but he seemed very happy to be working with fairies again. In his author bio he notes, "To see fairies, you need time to spare, time to think about not too much at all." Love that!
I adore so many elements of this story. Graham's families are always so *interesting*, and the Bryd family is no exception. Annabelle's family is perhaps a bit more stereotypical, with a dad who loves her but is too busy with work to give fairies (or his children) much thought and a well-meaning mother who plays along when her daughter invites a fairy family to tea, but perhaps not as whole-heartedly as she could. Annabelle is just so dear. I found it so touching how she continued to believe in fairies, and watch for magic, even in the concrete and weeds of her city home--and it's so delightful when she finds them! It's so sweet that her little brother can also feel the magic. The ending is at once beautiful, poignant, hopeful and cautionary. The story nearly brought tears to my eyes. Oh, and how refreshing is it to have the lead fairy be a little boy? It's great that nothing is too "girly" here--I love me some girly fairy stories, so not trying to disparage them, but here the fairies seem like real, interesting individuals and have interesting pastimes and goals and dress in a more cool, modern way so I think this is one of the few fairy books that both girls and boys could enjoy.
I adore so many elements of this story. Graham's families are always so *interesting*, and the Bryd family is no exception. Annabelle's family is perhaps a bit more stereotypical, with a dad who loves her but is too busy with work to give fairies (or his children) much thought and a well-meaning mother who plays along when her daughter invites a fairy family to tea, but perhaps not as whole-heartedly as she could. Annabelle is just so dear. I found it so touching how she continued to believe in fairies, and watch for magic, even in the concrete and weeds of her city home--and it's so delightful when she finds them! It's so sweet that her little brother can also feel the magic. The ending is at once beautiful, poignant, hopeful and cautionary. The story nearly brought tears to my eyes. Oh, and how refreshing is it to have the lead fairy be a little boy? It's great that nothing is too "girly" here--I love me some girly fairy stories, so not trying to disparage them, but here the fairies seem like real, interesting individuals and have interesting pastimes and goals and dress in a more cool, modern way so I think this is one of the few fairy books that both girls and boys could enjoy.
April 29, 2012
A little heavy handed in the children can see things adults can’t message but I loved it anyway.
I love that the main fairy character is a boy. I love that the fairy family is as normal as family as Annabelle’s human family. And, yes, I did like that Annabelle and her little brother could see the fairies and fairy things and their parents could not. I also liked that while the human parents were clueless, they were supportive in their own way.
The illustrations are marvelous. The food looks really good. (I want a cupcake.) The depiction of people’s faces took me a few pages to get used to, but then, as part of the whole, they worked fine for me. The fairy family members are a hoot.
This is a wonderful story about a child’s imagination.
I’ve read a few of this author-illustrator’s books and so far I have loved or at least really liked all of them. Even though I’ve cut way back on reading children’s picture books, this is one of the author-illustrator’s works I’ll try to make a point of reading.
I love that the main fairy character is a boy. I love that the fairy family is as normal as family as Annabelle’s human family. And, yes, I did like that Annabelle and her little brother could see the fairies and fairy things and their parents could not. I also liked that while the human parents were clueless, they were supportive in their own way.
The illustrations are marvelous. The food looks really good. (I want a cupcake.) The depiction of people’s faces took me a few pages to get used to, but then, as part of the whole, they worked fine for me. The fairy family members are a hoot.
This is a wonderful story about a child’s imagination.
I’ve read a few of this author-illustrator’s books and so far I have loved or at least really liked all of them. Even though I’ve cut way back on reading children’s picture books, this is one of the author-illustrator’s works I’ll try to make a point of reading.
May 9, 2013
*Updated review.
Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child
Graham, Bob. (2002). Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.
Genre: Fantasy, Children’s Picture Book
Determined to find fairies, Annabelle searches for them outside in the weeds despite her father’s nay saying. Good thing too, because Annabelle soon finds a young boy fairy, Jethro Byrd. Jethro Byrd introduces her to the entire Byrd fairy family. Annabelle helps the family and invites them to come through the fence to join her family for tea and fairy cakes. Annabelle’s mother plays along but her father is too busy tapping away on his computer to participate in this magical moment. Annabelle’s father is much too old and busy to be bothered by fairies, shares the Byrd family. Eventually, the fairies must leave and travel to a family reunion but they have something special for Annabelle that only she and her baby brother can see.
Graham is a favorite in my household. His stories are meaningful, magical, and offer feelings of mutuality. His characters, settings, and illustrations are real. For example, in this story, Annabelle’s family lives in an apartment complex and she plays out on the concrete and in the weeds. Graham could have chosen a single-family house for the setting, but an apartment building with graffiti displayed on a nearby fence is reality for a large number of families and now that population of children can connect with Annabelle in this beautiful story. The message shared about Annabelle’s workaholic father is a nice addition to the story because it emphasizes the genuine and pure nature of children. If fairies flew by my apartment window, I hope that I would see them :).
Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child
Graham, Bob. (2002). Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.
Genre: Fantasy, Children’s Picture Book
Determined to find fairies, Annabelle searches for them outside in the weeds despite her father’s nay saying. Good thing too, because Annabelle soon finds a young boy fairy, Jethro Byrd. Jethro Byrd introduces her to the entire Byrd fairy family. Annabelle helps the family and invites them to come through the fence to join her family for tea and fairy cakes. Annabelle’s mother plays along but her father is too busy tapping away on his computer to participate in this magical moment. Annabelle’s father is much too old and busy to be bothered by fairies, shares the Byrd family. Eventually, the fairies must leave and travel to a family reunion but they have something special for Annabelle that only she and her baby brother can see.
Graham is a favorite in my household. His stories are meaningful, magical, and offer feelings of mutuality. His characters, settings, and illustrations are real. For example, in this story, Annabelle’s family lives in an apartment complex and she plays out on the concrete and in the weeds. Graham could have chosen a single-family house for the setting, but an apartment building with graffiti displayed on a nearby fence is reality for a large number of families and now that population of children can connect with Annabelle in this beautiful story. The message shared about Annabelle’s workaholic father is a nice addition to the story because it emphasizes the genuine and pure nature of children. If fairies flew by my apartment window, I hope that I would see them :).
July 18, 2016
This is an interesting book about the imagination and power of youthful wonder and belief. While Annabelle's mother and father are too old and busy to believe in and look for fairies, Annabelle is not.
The story is entertaining and the characters reminded me of those from "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate and "The Trouble with Dogs..." Said Dad, also by Bob Graham.
Overall, it was an entertaining story and we enjoyed reading it together.
This story was selected as one of the books for the April 2012 - Mystical/Magical Creatures reads at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
It was also selected as one of the books for the June 2016 - Fairies reads at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
The story is entertaining and the characters reminded me of those from "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate and "The Trouble with Dogs..." Said Dad, also by Bob Graham.
Overall, it was an entertaining story and we enjoyed reading it together.
This story was selected as one of the books for the April 2012 - Mystical/Magical Creatures reads at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
It was also selected as one of the books for the June 2016 - Fairies reads at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
September 11, 2019
Australian picture-book author and artist Bob Graham, whose
April and Esme: Tooth Fairies
was a charming combination of traditional fairy-lore and contemporary family details, returns with a similar tale in Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child. Here we have young Annabelle, a firm believer in fairies, who persists in watching for the little winged creatures, despite her father's general disinterest, and his comments that they are unlikely to appear amidst the chaos of their urban yard. Her vigilance is eventually rewarded when the Byrds - a hamburger-truck-flying fairy-family, en route to the annual Fairy Travelers' Picnic - crash-land in the weeds, and agree to come to tea. Eager to show her new friends off to her skeptical parents, Anabelle is instead surprised to discover that they cannot see the Byrds...
Chosen as one of our April selections, over in The Picture-Book Club to which I belong, where our theme this month is "mystical/magical creatures," this sweet little tale captures that feeling of childlike wonder, in which all manner of enchantment seems possible. I thought Annabelle's family was captured fairly well - the distant father, the sympathetic (but not really in-tune) mother, the baby brother who obviously has no trouble seeing what Annabelle sees - and I also appreciated the Byrds, with their quirky, unexpected vocation, and mode of travel. I particularly liked that the (initial) fairy visitor was a boy, as that really subverts the "girliness" of so many of these stories. The artwork, done in watercolor and ink, was likewise appealing. In short: a nice updated "fairy-tale" for the contemporary child!
Chosen as one of our April selections, over in The Picture-Book Club to which I belong, where our theme this month is "mystical/magical creatures," this sweet little tale captures that feeling of childlike wonder, in which all manner of enchantment seems possible. I thought Annabelle's family was captured fairly well - the distant father, the sympathetic (but not really in-tune) mother, the baby brother who obviously has no trouble seeing what Annabelle sees - and I also appreciated the Byrds, with their quirky, unexpected vocation, and mode of travel. I particularly liked that the (initial) fairy visitor was a boy, as that really subverts the "girliness" of so many of these stories. The artwork, done in watercolor and ink, was likewise appealing. In short: a nice updated "fairy-tale" for the contemporary child!
April 20, 2012
Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child is a story of a little girl with a big imagination who believes in fairies. She meets the Byrds, a family of fairies who crashed their ice cream truck traveling to the Fairy Traveler's Picnic. My daughter is almost three and this is a perfect time to be reading the story to her. She has a very vivid imagination much like the Annabelle, the girl in the story.
My daughter's favorite part of the story was the tea party with the fairies. I think the pictures of cupcakes had a little to do with it. I like that mom took time from reading her book and acknowledged Annabelle's fairies and made them all treats. Dad taps away at the laptop not really paying much mind to anything else but the screen. Baby brother can see the fairies too.
I like that the fairies were not all female and they were a family. Quite an interesting family. I wouldn't mind attending the fairy picnic with them. =)
This was a Picture Book Club read for the month of April found here: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/8...
My daughter's favorite part of the story was the tea party with the fairies. I think the pictures of cupcakes had a little to do with it. I like that mom took time from reading her book and acknowledged Annabelle's fairies and made them all treats. Dad taps away at the laptop not really paying much mind to anything else but the screen. Baby brother can see the fairies too.
I like that the fairies were not all female and they were a family. Quite an interesting family. I wouldn't mind attending the fairy picnic with them. =)
This was a Picture Book Club read for the month of April found here: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/8...
March 3, 2010
I love reading pretty much anything that has to do with faeries and this is a cute story about a little girl named Annabelle who stumbles upon a family of fairies when they fall out of the sky in an ice cream truck. Annabelle helps them right the truck and then invites them to have tea and cake with her and her family. Only Annabelle and her baby brother can see the fairies though. While the story isn't the most exciting, the illustrations are very fun and well done.
A story about magic and the belief that you can see special things around you if you just take the time to look for them.
A story about magic and the belief that you can see special things around you if you just take the time to look for them.
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October 20, 2011Annabelle was a lovely little girl who wanted so badly to meet a fiary. Annabelle’s dad had little time for fairies he told Annabelle she wouldn’t find fairies in cement and weeds. Annabelle looked every day, one Saturday she seen something bounce of the fence. She went through to see it, there she met a boy as big as her finger. Who are you? She said Jethro Bryde he replied, I am a fairy child. Next what Annabelle saw next was so amazing a family of fairy’s landed in her back garden they were in a roadside hot dog van. Jethros dad was among the fairies, Annabelle told them her mum would make them all tea. Annabelle’s dad could not see the fairies when Annabelle showed him, this was because he was to grown up.
Annabelle’s mum brought fairy cakes and camomile tea in fairy cups. After tea the fairy’s played music and sang songs, Annabelle had such an amazing day. Then it was time for the fairies to leave as they had to attend the annual fairy traveller’s picnic. However Jethro didn’t want to go he did not like the fairy traveller’s picnic and pleaded to stay with Annabelle. Then he asked could Annabelle come along with them. They gave Annabelle a fairy watch that tells fairy time as she couldn’t go with them as she was a human and too big to attend. The fairy’s took of thanking her for a wonderful day and being so kind to them. That night Annabelle saw more fairies from everywhere they were all heading to the fairy travellers picnic. Long after she fell asleep their busy chattering and the buzzing of their wings and their far away music filled their dreams.
This was such a wonderful story full of enchantment and imagination. Children will really enjoy this story as it proves if you believe in something hard enough it could come true. There is so much excitement in this book and the illustartion is beautiful and gives the reader a clear picture.
Annabelle’s mum brought fairy cakes and camomile tea in fairy cups. After tea the fairy’s played music and sang songs, Annabelle had such an amazing day. Then it was time for the fairies to leave as they had to attend the annual fairy traveller’s picnic. However Jethro didn’t want to go he did not like the fairy traveller’s picnic and pleaded to stay with Annabelle. Then he asked could Annabelle come along with them. They gave Annabelle a fairy watch that tells fairy time as she couldn’t go with them as she was a human and too big to attend. The fairy’s took of thanking her for a wonderful day and being so kind to them. That night Annabelle saw more fairies from everywhere they were all heading to the fairy travellers picnic. Long after she fell asleep their busy chattering and the buzzing of their wings and their far away music filled their dreams.
This was such a wonderful story full of enchantment and imagination. Children will really enjoy this story as it proves if you believe in something hard enough it could come true. There is so much excitement in this book and the illustartion is beautiful and gives the reader a clear picture.
April 8, 2009
This book is a modern take on the fairy-at-the-bottom-of-the-garden story - with the garden being concrete with weeds overlooking the local service station, while the fairies are in the hamburger and ice-cream business. The plot beyond this initial premise is a little thin, and the text isn't exactly rip-roaringly exciting. The cartoon-esque illustrations are clear and fun.
When reading this aloud I couldn't help thinking of Jethro Gibbs from the TV show NCIS (even though this book was published before the character had made it to TV).
This is one of the relatively rare cases that a book is eligible for multiple 'national' awards - it was eligible for the Children's Book Council of Australia Awards because Bob Graham is Australian, and it was eligible for the Kate Greenaway Medal because the book was first published in the UK, while Bob was working there. I'd always somehow considered the Kate Greenaway Medal more prestigious. I suppose I felt this because 1) the UK must produce more children's books than Australia (given the population), 2) it has a greater cash prize 3) receiving the award would almost certainly lead to a greater number of book purchases by schools and libraries and I suppose 4) a bit of cultural cringe. Thus it is interesting to note that this book only managed to make the Short List of the CBCA Picture Book of the Year, but managed to win the Kate Greenaway Medal.
When reading this aloud I couldn't help thinking of Jethro Gibbs from the TV show NCIS (even though this book was published before the character had made it to TV).
This is one of the relatively rare cases that a book is eligible for multiple 'national' awards - it was eligible for the Children's Book Council of Australia Awards because Bob Graham is Australian, and it was eligible for the Kate Greenaway Medal because the book was first published in the UK, while Bob was working there. I'd always somehow considered the Kate Greenaway Medal more prestigious. I suppose I felt this because 1) the UK must produce more children's books than Australia (given the population), 2) it has a greater cash prize 3) receiving the award would almost certainly lead to a greater number of book purchases by schools and libraries and I suppose 4) a bit of cultural cringe. Thus it is interesting to note that this book only managed to make the Short List of the CBCA Picture Book of the Year, but managed to win the Kate Greenaway Medal.
November 11, 2009
This is an adorable story of Annabelle, a little girl who discovers a family of fairies. She introduces the Byrd Family to her family but her parents cannot see the fairies like she can. This story is another example of how only kids can see certain things because they believe in things like magic, fairies, or witches for example. It is a sweet story and I think I could like other fantasy stories, however this particular book is not a favorite of mine. I think this book would be particularly popular among young girls of the primary grades. It is a story of believing and faith. It is perfect for very young children.
April 21, 2012
Annabelle lives in a city, with concrete and weeds, but she is completely convinced that there are fairies out there. I'm with her - there has to be something beautiful around, or it's all just grey.
Enter the Byrd family. A mini human-looking family with fairy wings. They're just like us - only little - oh, and they have a magic flying hamburger van. Lucky things.
Our fairy hero is a normal boy (Yeah!) and our human hero is a normal girl (double Yeah!). So, with nothing particularly 'boyish' or 'girlish' this book will appeal to all children - and adults too.
The pictures are gorgeous and with enough happening that I'm sure more fun details will be found in each new reading.
Enter the Byrd family. A mini human-looking family with fairy wings. They're just like us - only little - oh, and they have a magic flying hamburger van. Lucky things.
Our fairy hero is a normal boy (Yeah!) and our human hero is a normal girl (double Yeah!). So, with nothing particularly 'boyish' or 'girlish' this book will appeal to all children - and adults too.
The pictures are gorgeous and with enough happening that I'm sure more fun details will be found in each new reading.
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June 2, 2016I really liked this cute story that had both a different type of family as well as a different type of fairy. I loved that Annabelle's family lives in an apartment. I think sometimes when we read summer stories of kids playing outside, it's easy to overlook the fact that not all families have big back yards.
I also love that the fairies are in a little family unit, with a mom, dad, little boy, baby, and a grandma. It's fun to see a fairy story where the fairies are just like humans, traveling to a party to make hamburgers and ice cream; rather than magical creatures.
I also love that the fairies are in a little family unit, with a mom, dad, little boy, baby, and a grandma. It's fun to see a fairy story where the fairies are just like humans, traveling to a party to make hamburgers and ice cream; rather than magical creatures.
May 4, 2024
2002 Kate Greenaway Medal
An interesting story with modern-looking fairies of all ages and both genders, even to the detail of operating an ice cream truck for fairies. I loved that Annabelle was able to befriend them, help them, and be a hostess to them, even though they were not able to take her with them to their picnic. A sweet, lovely story and one that boys should not find too "girly" a story.
An interesting story with modern-looking fairies of all ages and both genders, even to the detail of operating an ice cream truck for fairies. I loved that Annabelle was able to befriend them, help them, and be a hostess to them, even though they were not able to take her with them to their picnic. A sweet, lovely story and one that boys should not find too "girly" a story.
June 18, 2016
Darling illustrations and a sweet story of a young girl, Annabelle, who loves fairies and longs to see one. Her searching and believing pay off and she meets Jethro Byrd and his family. I loved that the fairies are a whole family with musical talents and warm and loving relationships. My 7 year old and I enjoyed it together. She would rate it 5 stars.
March 12, 2019
I did not like this book too much because I hardly ever read stories in the cartoon style, so there was not the feeling of nostalgia for me. This book’s style can be best described as a cartoon, and it probably won the Greenaway award for being able to open up the book for children to imagine they are interacting with fairies. Like for most children playing make believe, Annabelle’s parents didn’t believe her, and I think most kids can relate when their parents pass off what they believe as real. This book does reach the intended readers because most of them are in this make believe phase. I would use this book to express to kids that just because their parents do not believe what they are seeing is real, they should keep pretending it is because that is the beauty of innocence on childhood. Each page has a huge part of the story, and I think there is an added bonus by having the fairies portrayed in smaller sections because it shows the imagination of the child.
April 4, 2019
Annabelle is a little girl with a big imagination, and dreams of seeing fairies. She looks for them all the time when she is outside playing. Her mother and father does not participate, nor do they discourage her. One day, she lets her imagination lose and she sees a little fairy boy, Jethro Byrd. His family has crashed in their ice cream truck. She helps them get the truck free and invite the family to tea at her house, however, there is one issue, she is the only one who can see them, as mommies and daddies are too old to see fairies. She spends the entire day with the fairy family and create this friendship with them, they even give her a gift, a watch. Annabelle and her little brother are the only ones that can see the watch. This story is a wonderful way to see life through a child’s eyes and imagination.
May 27, 2023
Part of the Read Aloud Treasury: Annabelle’s dad has little time for fairies, but Annabelle has lots of time and one day finds a fairy family. This is an imaginative tale about the marvelous discoveries to be made by seeing the world through the wide-open eyes of a child.
May 3, 2024
Oh how is this not better known? Almost makes me sniffle, definitely makes me wish that I wasn't a grown-up and could see fairies. And, as always with Graham, I love the details that show the modern urban setting like a gas station, cement, a laptop, and reasonably attentive & respectful parents.
June 18, 2025
Very sweet book about a little girl who believed she could find faries, her dad doubted her, but soon after she found a family of faries right where she was looking. It’s a story about believing and finding the time to see the magic around us and how that time and magic goes away as we get older.
April 28, 2012
Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child by Bob Graham is a story of magic, faith and discovery as a girl discovers fairies in the concrete and weeds of her backyard.
Graham's detailed illustrations are done in watercolor and ink. They combine a contemporary urban city with the magic of a traveling fairy family. My favorite images are title page, ice cream truck assist, Annabelle meets the Byrds, fairy cakes and tea, Annabelle's family at tea, Annabelle receives a watch, truck takes off, and last two images.
While this will appeal more to girls, elements like the ice cream / hamburger truck, contemporary setting, and Jethro as a main character could gain some boys as fans as well. Graham's humor will appeal to young and old. This strong read aloud choice will best work one on one so that children can appreciate the details of the pictures. This thoughtful, nuanced, charming, gentle story of a sensitive child whose faith is rewarded despite her distracted parents. Graham's quirky stories are always a joy to read. Highly recommended for school and public library collections.
For ages 5 to 8, fairies, friendship, family-stories, belief, magical-creatures, faith, fantasy, gardens, and fans of Bob Graham.
Graham's detailed illustrations are done in watercolor and ink. They combine a contemporary urban city with the magic of a traveling fairy family. My favorite images are title page, ice cream truck assist, Annabelle meets the Byrds, fairy cakes and tea, Annabelle's family at tea, Annabelle receives a watch, truck takes off, and last two images.
While this will appeal more to girls, elements like the ice cream / hamburger truck, contemporary setting, and Jethro as a main character could gain some boys as fans as well. Graham's humor will appeal to young and old. This strong read aloud choice will best work one on one so that children can appreciate the details of the pictures. This thoughtful, nuanced, charming, gentle story of a sensitive child whose faith is rewarded despite her distracted parents. Graham's quirky stories are always a joy to read. Highly recommended for school and public library collections.
For ages 5 to 8, fairies, friendship, family-stories, belief, magical-creatures, faith, fantasy, gardens, and fans of Bob Graham.
October 25, 2016
Dads are too busy to be good people.
I wanted to like it, but it's kind of judgmental against people who don't take time to look at the world around them. A little girl is always looking for fairies, but her parents tell her she'll never find them in "cement and weeds." But she does. And she invites them to tea. And her mother makes tea and cakes for them, even though she doesn't seem to be able to see them, kind of humoring her child. The father pretty much ignores her and the playing because he's on his keyboard, "Clickety click. Clickety click. Clickety click." And the fairies sing a song, and then they leave because they're going to a gathering of fairies. They give her a little watch and nobody else can see it.
It doesn't say that the mother can't see the fairies; it's only implied. But the father *definitely* can't see the fairies, because he is *not paying attention to his daughter.* He is a bad father, because he is not participating in her search for mythical creatures.
For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.
I wanted to like it, but it's kind of judgmental against people who don't take time to look at the world around them. A little girl is always looking for fairies, but her parents tell her she'll never find them in "cement and weeds." But she does. And she invites them to tea. And her mother makes tea and cakes for them, even though she doesn't seem to be able to see them, kind of humoring her child. The father pretty much ignores her and the playing because he's on his keyboard, "Clickety click. Clickety click. Clickety click." And the fairies sing a song, and then they leave because they're going to a gathering of fairies. They give her a little watch and nobody else can see it.
It doesn't say that the mother can't see the fairies; it's only implied. But the father *definitely* can't see the fairies, because he is *not paying attention to his daughter.* He is a bad father, because he is not participating in her search for mythical creatures.
For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.
May 16, 2012
Annabelle has lots of time and finally discovers a boy fairy. She is able to help his family and invites them to tea. Even though her parents can't see them her mother makes camomile tea and fairy cakes. A quiet book about taking time and looking closely for things. I enjoyed the city environment and the fairy ice cream truck spewing flowers.
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November 20, 2014Annabelle lives in the city with her family, and hopes one day she'll be able to meet some fairies. Her father doesn't think she will, as all that is in the city are weeds and cement. Annabelle's father is proven wrong, though, as a whole family of fairies show up with their ice cream truck, and stay for tea.
SIllustrations are done using watercolour and ink.
SIllustrations are done using watercolour and ink.
March 20, 2015
I just fell a little bit in love. This is one of the loveliest fairy stories we have read. i love that fairy child Jethro is a real boy, and that his family are so normal. My children will be out looking for fairies everywhere.
June 12, 2008
Sage says 5 stars, I say 4. This book had a nice story - not especially well written, though. The pictures are cute.
April 25, 2009
multifacted story of child's belief in fairies, fully imagined. really captured my preschooler's imagination.
March 10, 2012
Have we said yet how much we love Bob Graham?
January 28, 2014
Love that the main character is a boy fairy.
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