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The Night Fairy
From 2008 Newbery Medalist Laura Amy Schlitz comes an exhilarating new adventure -- and a thoroughly original fairy who is a true force of nature. (Ages 7-11)What would happen to a fairy if she lost her wings and could no longer fly? Flory, a young night fairy no taller than an acorn and still becoming accustomed to her wings -- wings as beautiful as those of a luna moth -- is about to find out. What she discovers is that the world is very big and very dangerous. But Flory is fierce and willing to do whatever it takes to survive. If that means telling others what to do -- like Skuggle, a squirrel ruled by his stomach -- so be it. Not every creature, however, is as willing to bend to Flory’s demands. Newbery Medal winner Laura Amy Schlitz and world-renowned illustrator and miniaturist Angela Barrett venture into the realm of the illustrated classic -- a classic entirely and exquisitely of their making, and a magnificent adventure.
55 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 23, 2010
124 people are currently reading
2902 people want to read
About the author
Laura Amy Schlitz
20 books518 followersLaura Amy Schlitz is an American author of children's literature. She is a librarian and storyteller at The Park School in Brooklandville, Maryland.
She received the 2008 Newbery Medal for her children's book entitled Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village,[1] and the 2013 Newbery Honor for her children's book, Splendors and Glooms.[2] She also won the 2016 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, the 2016 National Jewish Book Award, and the Sydney Taylor Book Award for her young adult book, The Hired Girl. Her other published books are The Hero Schliemann: The Dreamer Who Dug For Troy (2006), A Drowned Maiden's Hair: A Melodrama (2006), which won a Cybils Award that year, The Bearskinner: A Tale of the Brothers Grimm (2007), The Night Fairy (2010).
Schlitz attended Goucher College in Towson, Maryland, and graduated in 1977.
She received the 2008 Newbery Medal for her children's book entitled Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village,[1] and the 2013 Newbery Honor for her children's book, Splendors and Glooms.[2] She also won the 2016 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, the 2016 National Jewish Book Award, and the Sydney Taylor Book Award for her young adult book, The Hired Girl. Her other published books are The Hero Schliemann: The Dreamer Who Dug For Troy (2006), A Drowned Maiden's Hair: A Melodrama (2006), which won a Cybils Award that year, The Bearskinner: A Tale of the Brothers Grimm (2007), The Night Fairy (2010).
Schlitz attended Goucher College in Towson, Maryland, and graduated in 1977.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 747 reviews
December 10, 2020
One Flightless Fairy + One Slightly Stupid Squirrel + One Hotheaded Hummingbird = The Ultimate Storybook
Second off, the plot was really cute. The Night Fairy loses her wings due to a freak accident with a bat. She lands in the back garden of a human with nothing and no one to help her.
She's all alone for the first time in her life.
She has to survive hungry squirrels, vain hummingbirds and the approach of winter all all while remaining hidden away from human eyes. Skuggle the squirrel was brash, but charming. I really liked how the hummingbird took none of the fairy's sass. It's always satisfying to see a character get put in her place.
Overall a fun, quick read - I haven't tested this book on a kid but this was a fun one to read as an adult!
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First off, I LOVE the illustrations! I'm a sucker for the realistic fantasy images in children's books and these are extremely well-done. The artist gives such emotion and whimsy to this book.
The Night Fairy and Skuggle the Squirrel.
Second off, the plot was really cute. The Night Fairy loses her wings due to a freak accident with a bat. She lands in the back garden of a human with nothing and no one to help her.
She's all alone for the first time in her life.
She has to survive hungry squirrels, vain hummingbirds and the approach of winter all all while remaining hidden away from human eyes. Skuggle the squirrel was brash, but charming. I really liked how the hummingbird took none of the fairy's sass. It's always satisfying to see a character get put in her place.
Overall a fun, quick read - I haven't tested this book on a kid but this was a fun one to read as an adult!
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January 19, 2010
Why do children, most notably little girls, like fairies? I think we can understand the princess allure. Princesses get to wear frilly clothes, sparkles, and absolutely everyone has to obey them. So why are fairies also popular? Laura Amy Schlitz has a theory. Princesses wear corsets. Fairies don’t. Princesses have responsibilities. Fairies don’t. Princesses spend a lot of time inside castles. Fairies spend a lot of time outdoors. If the romance of the princess is that you get to be above the rough and tumble everyday realities of life, the romance of the fairy is that you get to be in the thick of it. Flying, running, dodging, hiding, and getting to be in nature like no other creature. Now Ms. Schlitz has created a fairy story for her future “wild women of America”. On the surface, The Night Fairy looks like a beautiful object d’art. Wriggle inside its pages, though, and you’re reading the story about the kind of creature who fights monsters one minute, and sews herself the most delicate of flower blossom dresses the next. Beauty and excitement all in one slim little package.
“Flory was a night fairy.” Was, I'm afraid. Like others of her kind she was perfectly content to flit about at night. Unfortunately Flory was born with lovely luminous wings so pretty that one night a bat crunches them by mistake, and Flory finds herself wingless. Alone and hurt in a strange garden, she becomes determined to be a day fairy and sets about taking care of herself. She befriends a hungry squirrel and the two help one another out. She makes herself a home in a birdhouse In the midst of all of this, however, she still longs to fly again. One day she sees a hummingbird and becomes determined to tame and ride it. Such plans, however, hit a wall when Flory discovers that wanting something and then actually getting what you want are two very different matters.
I don’t know where this notion that fairies are insipid came from. I guess there’s a feeling that a lot of them just sort of flutter about for no apparent reason. In light of this, Flory may have to become a spokeswoman for anti-fairy defamers. Sure, when the book begins it says that like those other fairies Flora is “coasting on the breeze, letting it toss her wherever it liked,” but she’s soon plunged into the real world and has to make her way. Using her cleverness she finds shelter, gets food, makes clothing, and finds an ally. All the necessities of life are ticked off, one by one, all thanks to her ingenuity. She also makes herself a weapon, though, and on more than one occasion she has to do battle with forces much bigger than herself. Typically fairies are considered girly territory, but there’s nothing about Flory that a boy wouldn’t also enjoy. She’s feisty, a fighter, and she knows what she wants (most of the time).
The other charm of fairies, and I really hadn’t thought about this until Ms. Schlitz brought it up, is how tiny they are. I wonder why that’s so appealing. Kids are already small. You would think their instincts would be to want to be huge. Yet tiny things entrance them. Dollhouses and miniature train sets and the like. I guess the idea of being small was why Thumbelina was one of my favorite books growing up. Imagine behind able to use a flower as a boat and to pole yourself away. Flory gets to immerse herself in the wild, and there’s a lot to love about that. As a kind of child surrogate, she also gets to indulge herself. It’s not just that fairies are free but that they're also willful like kids. Flory wants her own way. She’s clever enough to get it most of the time too, but much of this book is about Flory learning that others have needs too. My husband likes to say that in a good work of fiction characters want what they want. Flory is the perfect embodiment of this. She wants what she wants and when she has to acquiesce to what other animals or creatures want it takes an extra effort for her to understand this.
To be fair, the very packaging of this book is a great part of its charm as well. The size is small, bringing to mind the Flower Fairy books of Cicely Mary Barker. The pages are thick and white. Each chapter begins with a small silhouette of some of the action that is about to happen. And every watercolor in the book has a purple border on one side, usually close to the gutter of the novel, that features a vine of thorns and berries. It’s quite subtle. You might not notice it on a first or second reading. Near the end of the book, this border duplicates itself to appear on either side of the two-page spread of Flory’s ultimate triumph. Little details like this allow a book to feel loved. A reader might not notice the curlicues beside the page numbers or the embossed silhouette underneath the book’s cover (take it off and see for yourself) but if they do notice it will sit well in their unconscious minds.
And then there are the watercolors by Angela Barrett. Ms. Barrett has sort of made a name for herself, illustrating books with luminous images. Her Beauty and the Beast by Max Eilenberg, for example, is one of the best picture book versions of the tale out there. For this book, she has created illustrations that almost resemble colored pencils, they’re so light on the page. I’m personally a fan of thick lines and deep colors, so the sketchy nature of the art isn’t one that I’m immediately drawn to. Still, I could appreciate Barrett’s use of light and detail. It is clear that she read the book thoroughly. The first image we have of Flory is of her standing at night, her wings still intact, her silver shadow (the shadows of night fairies are silver instead of black) casting a bright path behind her.
Another thing Barrett does so well here is understand the sense of scale. Schlitz writes at the beginning that Flory was “as tall as an acorn”. She’s remarkably small. You get a vague sense of this at the start, but it isn’t until you see Flory confronting Skuggle the squirrel that it really hits home. For American kids in many parts of the country, squirrels are pretty reliable go-to wildlife. You see them everywhere. You understand roundabout how big they are. So to see Flory standing about as high as Skuggle’s knee, that hits home.
At times it reminded me a bit of Miss Hickory, a book by another Newbery award winning author (though I am happy to report that unlike Miss Hickory, Flory doesn’t get her head eaten at the end of her story). One thing we can conclude at the end of this book is that Laura Amy Schlitz truly has a way with words. She simply has never written a bad book. In the past she has conquered fairy tales, biographies, Newbery winners, and middle grade fiction. Now chalk off “bedtime stories” with The Night Fairy if you please. It’s difficult to do what she does. In this book you’ll find the ultimate fairy title. One you not only won’t be ashamed to hand to a kid, you’ll be encouraging them to give it a try. Another winner.
Ages 6-11.
“Flory was a night fairy.” Was, I'm afraid. Like others of her kind she was perfectly content to flit about at night. Unfortunately Flory was born with lovely luminous wings so pretty that one night a bat crunches them by mistake, and Flory finds herself wingless. Alone and hurt in a strange garden, she becomes determined to be a day fairy and sets about taking care of herself. She befriends a hungry squirrel and the two help one another out. She makes herself a home in a birdhouse In the midst of all of this, however, she still longs to fly again. One day she sees a hummingbird and becomes determined to tame and ride it. Such plans, however, hit a wall when Flory discovers that wanting something and then actually getting what you want are two very different matters.
I don’t know where this notion that fairies are insipid came from. I guess there’s a feeling that a lot of them just sort of flutter about for no apparent reason. In light of this, Flory may have to become a spokeswoman for anti-fairy defamers. Sure, when the book begins it says that like those other fairies Flora is “coasting on the breeze, letting it toss her wherever it liked,” but she’s soon plunged into the real world and has to make her way. Using her cleverness she finds shelter, gets food, makes clothing, and finds an ally. All the necessities of life are ticked off, one by one, all thanks to her ingenuity. She also makes herself a weapon, though, and on more than one occasion she has to do battle with forces much bigger than herself. Typically fairies are considered girly territory, but there’s nothing about Flory that a boy wouldn’t also enjoy. She’s feisty, a fighter, and she knows what she wants (most of the time).
The other charm of fairies, and I really hadn’t thought about this until Ms. Schlitz brought it up, is how tiny they are. I wonder why that’s so appealing. Kids are already small. You would think their instincts would be to want to be huge. Yet tiny things entrance them. Dollhouses and miniature train sets and the like. I guess the idea of being small was why Thumbelina was one of my favorite books growing up. Imagine behind able to use a flower as a boat and to pole yourself away. Flory gets to immerse herself in the wild, and there’s a lot to love about that. As a kind of child surrogate, she also gets to indulge herself. It’s not just that fairies are free but that they're also willful like kids. Flory wants her own way. She’s clever enough to get it most of the time too, but much of this book is about Flory learning that others have needs too. My husband likes to say that in a good work of fiction characters want what they want. Flory is the perfect embodiment of this. She wants what she wants and when she has to acquiesce to what other animals or creatures want it takes an extra effort for her to understand this.
To be fair, the very packaging of this book is a great part of its charm as well. The size is small, bringing to mind the Flower Fairy books of Cicely Mary Barker. The pages are thick and white. Each chapter begins with a small silhouette of some of the action that is about to happen. And every watercolor in the book has a purple border on one side, usually close to the gutter of the novel, that features a vine of thorns and berries. It’s quite subtle. You might not notice it on a first or second reading. Near the end of the book, this border duplicates itself to appear on either side of the two-page spread of Flory’s ultimate triumph. Little details like this allow a book to feel loved. A reader might not notice the curlicues beside the page numbers or the embossed silhouette underneath the book’s cover (take it off and see for yourself) but if they do notice it will sit well in their unconscious minds.
And then there are the watercolors by Angela Barrett. Ms. Barrett has sort of made a name for herself, illustrating books with luminous images. Her Beauty and the Beast by Max Eilenberg, for example, is one of the best picture book versions of the tale out there. For this book, she has created illustrations that almost resemble colored pencils, they’re so light on the page. I’m personally a fan of thick lines and deep colors, so the sketchy nature of the art isn’t one that I’m immediately drawn to. Still, I could appreciate Barrett’s use of light and detail. It is clear that she read the book thoroughly. The first image we have of Flory is of her standing at night, her wings still intact, her silver shadow (the shadows of night fairies are silver instead of black) casting a bright path behind her.
Another thing Barrett does so well here is understand the sense of scale. Schlitz writes at the beginning that Flory was “as tall as an acorn”. She’s remarkably small. You get a vague sense of this at the start, but it isn’t until you see Flory confronting Skuggle the squirrel that it really hits home. For American kids in many parts of the country, squirrels are pretty reliable go-to wildlife. You see them everywhere. You understand roundabout how big they are. So to see Flory standing about as high as Skuggle’s knee, that hits home.
At times it reminded me a bit of Miss Hickory, a book by another Newbery award winning author (though I am happy to report that unlike Miss Hickory, Flory doesn’t get her head eaten at the end of her story). One thing we can conclude at the end of this book is that Laura Amy Schlitz truly has a way with words. She simply has never written a bad book. In the past she has conquered fairy tales, biographies, Newbery winners, and middle grade fiction. Now chalk off “bedtime stories” with The Night Fairy if you please. It’s difficult to do what she does. In this book you’ll find the ultimate fairy title. One you not only won’t be ashamed to hand to a kid, you’ll be encouraging them to give it a try. Another winner.
Ages 6-11.
April 18, 2024
Fierce, gripping & fantastic!
It’s the story of a little young fairy who was attacked when she was very small because of which she has lost her wings and could no longer fly.
Things get difficult when she tries to survive alone and no one to guide her. She meets good beings, evil ones and the few who would become her trusted friends.
I read this book in one sitting as it was really gripping, tense and beautifully written.
I would like to highlight the illustrations which made the reading experience so special and memorable. Kudos to the artist!
Read this book with the young children for the times when you feel you are not enough and life has only been harsh to you. Your perspective will change and you will get to learn that not all fairies have it easy 🧚♂️
It’s the story of a little young fairy who was attacked when she was very small because of which she has lost her wings and could no longer fly.
Things get difficult when she tries to survive alone and no one to guide her. She meets good beings, evil ones and the few who would become her trusted friends.
I read this book in one sitting as it was really gripping, tense and beautifully written.
I would like to highlight the illustrations which made the reading experience so special and memorable. Kudos to the artist!
Read this book with the young children for the times when you feel you are not enough and life has only been harsh to you. Your perspective will change and you will get to learn that not all fairies have it easy 🧚♂️
June 10, 2011
I got this primarily for Barrett's illustrations, which turned out to be not numerous. They were pretty but a little too cute for my taste. Little girls who gravitate to the word "fairy" will probably appreciate them more.
The story of the injured little fairy growing up in a garden was... okay. I felt a little bored, to be honest, but I didn't hate it, either. Ditto the protagonist Flory and her dumb squirrel ally. Schlitz seemed to be trying to have her animals both ways -- nature red in tooth and claw while at the same time anthropomorphized for conversations and caring about things like apologies. This combination didn't really work for me, but that's just a matter of taste. Certainly it was not badly written.
The story of the injured little fairy growing up in a garden was... okay. I felt a little bored, to be honest, but I didn't hate it, either. Ditto the protagonist Flory and her dumb squirrel ally. Schlitz seemed to be trying to have her animals both ways -- nature red in tooth and claw while at the same time anthropomorphized for conversations and caring about things like apologies. This combination didn't really work for me, but that's just a matter of taste. Certainly it was not badly written.
August 18, 2010
Both my girls are out of the fairy years, thank GOD. Freakin' wings and gossamer gaaaaah. This book did not give me flashbacks. It's beautiful and lyrical and really does look like a classic (it's like a super-girly Bat Poet, if Randall Jarrell were prone to glimmering and running around on tiptoe). I love the book's small size and sumptuous illustrations, and Schlitz is just killer with the prettiness-of-nature (and scariness-of-nature) descriptions. Parents who have not yet escaped the fairy years should find this an awesome antidote to those vile vomitty Rainbow Fairy books. Flory is a brave, smart role model, not some sour little Tinkerbell or online-game Disney slutfairy (tm). And she matures over the course of the story, which is cool. But I do wonder about the audience. I think this book's a little too hard for beginning chapter-book readers -- I'd suggest it as a bedtime read-aloud for parents of girls who devour sparkly unicorn and fairy crap on their own -- but I think it'll be a tough sell to more accomplished readers. When I gave it to Josie, she was all I HATE FAIRIES and handed it back. I did my special LEAVE IT ON THE COFFEE TABLE trick, and she picked it up eventually and was instantly absorbed (I'm telling you: GOOD WRITING HERE) but then she was FURIOUS at the ending. Loathed it. No spoilers here -- I'll just say it's ambiguous and lets one imagine lots of further adventures. It's lovely, from an adult perspective. But for a kid who wants a slam-bang, conclusive ending, the open-endedness may be unsatisfying.
June 15, 2010
I didn't think I was going to like it because the narrator sounded so little girl-ish. But, after a little bit, I got into the story. What a cute one! I can easily see second or third grade girls enjoying this one!
October 17, 2017
Very pretty. Compact book design, with bright heavy pages and rich resonant pictures. Not sure about the story - seems too reminiscent of so many older stories that I loved but that have gone out of print. I suppose if I were seven or so right now I'd love this to pieces... but maybe only because I wouldn't know better? Or maybe it is really good?
December 1, 2010
Flory is a night fairy whose wings are accidentally damaged by a bat. Now she must learn to live during the day and get along with the inhabitants of the "giant's" garden where she landed.
I first read this one as a ARC and didn't really care for it. However, on rereading the finished copy, I was struck by the simplicity and beauty of the language and the plot arc. It's a deceptively simple story, but one filled with conflict and change for the protagonist. Flory must adapt and grow, both physically and emotionanly.
I especially enjoyed the scenes with the hummingbird and the spider. They turn out well for Flory, but not how you expect and not at all formulaicly. Instead, Flory has to think beyond herself and solve complex problems without seeing a definite plus side for herself. This reminded me of how young children must learn these same skills and exactly how difficult it can be to teach them that their actions can hurt others, just as they can be hurt.
Doesn't affect Newbery discussion, but the artwork is also very well-done. The muted colors and soft lines clearly illustrate Flory and her world. The trees and animals are especially beautiful, with a surprising amount of detail.
I can easily recommend this book for many of the 2nd to 5th grade girls I see daily. Not so sure any boys will pick it up, but if they do, I think they might be impressed by plucky, scrappy Flory.
I first read this one as a ARC and didn't really care for it. However, on rereading the finished copy, I was struck by the simplicity and beauty of the language and the plot arc. It's a deceptively simple story, but one filled with conflict and change for the protagonist. Flory must adapt and grow, both physically and emotionanly.
I especially enjoyed the scenes with the hummingbird and the spider. They turn out well for Flory, but not how you expect and not at all formulaicly. Instead, Flory has to think beyond herself and solve complex problems without seeing a definite plus side for herself. This reminded me of how young children must learn these same skills and exactly how difficult it can be to teach them that their actions can hurt others, just as they can be hurt.
Doesn't affect Newbery discussion, but the artwork is also very well-done. The muted colors and soft lines clearly illustrate Flory and her world. The trees and animals are especially beautiful, with a surprising amount of detail.
I can easily recommend this book for many of the 2nd to 5th grade girls I see daily. Not so sure any boys will pick it up, but if they do, I think they might be impressed by plucky, scrappy Flory.
November 9, 2013
This is a short tale about Flory, a young Night Fairy who loses her wings when a bat accidentally mistakes her for a moth. Because of this the fairy has to learn how to survive in a "giant's" (human's) garden by figuring out who she can trust and how. She must also perfect her "stinging" spell to defend herself from squirrels, racoons, and other creatures who might wish to make a meal of her.
Just when I started to get annoyed with Flory and her selfish attitude, it started to become apparent that Flory was on a journey of more than discovering spells and ways to survive, but what selfless means and how friendship works.
The tale could be a bit scary for young children, but the nice thing is that the story moves along at a good pace. Overall I wanted more time spent on character development (it feels like a more detailed fairytale, but not a full-fledged novel), but there are some lovely descriptions of the garden and nature, and I think children who love fairies and imagining what could be flitting around their backyard would enjoy this book. Plus, the illustrations are pretty and the book itself has a fantastical feel to it.
Just when I started to get annoyed with Flory and her selfish attitude, it started to become apparent that Flory was on a journey of more than discovering spells and ways to survive, but what selfless means and how friendship works.
The tale could be a bit scary for young children, but the nice thing is that the story moves along at a good pace. Overall I wanted more time spent on character development (it feels like a more detailed fairytale, but not a full-fledged novel), but there are some lovely descriptions of the garden and nature, and I think children who love fairies and imagining what could be flitting around their backyard would enjoy this book. Plus, the illustrations are pretty and the book itself has a fantastical feel to it.
January 30, 2018
This is a fun, sweet and short book about a little fairy with some very bad luck. I love how it wasn’t what I’d typically call a fairy story, but showed how she was resourceful and adapted to her situation and troubles. Fun stuff!
May 21, 2011
The lives of fairies never cease to fascinate people; therefore, neither does the continual stream of literature about fairies ever cease to flow. These tales are often retellings of legends about famous characters such as Thumbelina, but The Night Fairy is a totally new and original story about a miniature fairy world and its distinctive place in our earth.
On her own at an early age (as is usually the case for fairies), Flory suffers an injury one night at the overeager hands of a hungry young bat who chomps her wings off in one careless moment, crippling Flory and leaving her defenseless to the predators of the animal kingdom, nearly all of which are much bigger than she. Flory is furious about the loss of her wings and decides to hate all bats for what the creature did, but time does not give her the luxury of idly fuming about the injustice that was committed against her. She has to find suitable shelter and establish a safe home before a hungry animal catches her; then, she must quickly learn to master her natural fairy magic, since without wings it is her only viable defense against marauding bestial predators.
Flory finds that the world is not without its opportunities for alliances, and that the friends she is able to make can be of enormous help to her in her quest to begin a new life. Skuggle, the squirrel, is preoccupied with food and always keeps one eye on Flory as a potential good meal even after they become allies, but Flory is able to help him extricate food from the bird feeder, and in turn his flitting squirrel speed is of invaluable use in carrying Flory around quickly, since she is without the use of her missing wings. Give-and-take seems to be the overriding principle of the natural world that Flory inhabits, and keying in on the right animal allies is an important part of learning to survive.
As Flory is becoming used to her life, two new surprises await her. The first one is a situation that leads her to understand that there's more to the value of other beings than just what they can tangibly do in return for her; compassion for those in trouble is at least as significant a driving force, and acting on it can bring far greater rewards than a merely self-focused life. The other surprise is that her greatest fear and source of anger may not have been as accurately founded as she had thought, and her worst loss not as irretrievable as she had come to grudgingly accept.
I think there must be some unofficial law of nature that says a fairy story must be written using beautiful language. Laura Amy Schlitz displays her knack for nuanced descriptive phrase throughout this book, enhancing the scope of the story and giving dimension to our "giant" world as Flory sees it. Flory may only be two acorns tall, but her personality is as memorable as that of most humans, and her story is one that deserved to be told. I might consider giving two and a half stars to The Night Fairy.
On her own at an early age (as is usually the case for fairies), Flory suffers an injury one night at the overeager hands of a hungry young bat who chomps her wings off in one careless moment, crippling Flory and leaving her defenseless to the predators of the animal kingdom, nearly all of which are much bigger than she. Flory is furious about the loss of her wings and decides to hate all bats for what the creature did, but time does not give her the luxury of idly fuming about the injustice that was committed against her. She has to find suitable shelter and establish a safe home before a hungry animal catches her; then, she must quickly learn to master her natural fairy magic, since without wings it is her only viable defense against marauding bestial predators.
Flory finds that the world is not without its opportunities for alliances, and that the friends she is able to make can be of enormous help to her in her quest to begin a new life. Skuggle, the squirrel, is preoccupied with food and always keeps one eye on Flory as a potential good meal even after they become allies, but Flory is able to help him extricate food from the bird feeder, and in turn his flitting squirrel speed is of invaluable use in carrying Flory around quickly, since she is without the use of her missing wings. Give-and-take seems to be the overriding principle of the natural world that Flory inhabits, and keying in on the right animal allies is an important part of learning to survive.
As Flory is becoming used to her life, two new surprises await her. The first one is a situation that leads her to understand that there's more to the value of other beings than just what they can tangibly do in return for her; compassion for those in trouble is at least as significant a driving force, and acting on it can bring far greater rewards than a merely self-focused life. The other surprise is that her greatest fear and source of anger may not have been as accurately founded as she had thought, and her worst loss not as irretrievable as she had come to grudgingly accept.
I think there must be some unofficial law of nature that says a fairy story must be written using beautiful language. Laura Amy Schlitz displays her knack for nuanced descriptive phrase throughout this book, enhancing the scope of the story and giving dimension to our "giant" world as Flory sees it. Flory may only be two acorns tall, but her personality is as memorable as that of most humans, and her story is one that deserved to be told. I might consider giving two and a half stars to The Night Fairy.
January 17, 2011
Sarah: Ow! It bit me!
Hoggle: What'd you expect fairies to do?
Sarah: I thought they did nice things, like... like granting wishes.
Hoggle: Shows what *you* know, don't it?
--Labyrinth (1986)
The Night Fairy is not a typical fairy story with princesses and wishes. Flory is a night fairy who, after being "attacked" by a bat, chooses to live as a day fairy. The story is a bit rambly in exploring the world and meeting new characters, which I expect is fine for a child audience, but was not all that interesting for me.
What I don't like is that the story contains many bad lessons, such as:
* Becoming disabled is reason enough to abandon your identity.
* You can rearrange your whole schedule to avoid those that you irrationally fear.
* It's okay to use people if they are using you back.
* With great power comes the ability to threaten, bully, and enslave.
Though not all of the characters put up with Flory's crap, none really put her in her place, and I'm not left with the impression that she has learned anything or developed into a positive role model. Maybe she's not meant to be.
Hoggle: What'd you expect fairies to do?
Sarah: I thought they did nice things, like... like granting wishes.
Hoggle: Shows what *you* know, don't it?
--Labyrinth (1986)
The Night Fairy is not a typical fairy story with princesses and wishes. Flory is a night fairy who, after being "attacked" by a bat, chooses to live as a day fairy. The story is a bit rambly in exploring the world and meeting new characters, which I expect is fine for a child audience, but was not all that interesting for me.
What I don't like is that the story contains many bad lessons, such as:
* Becoming disabled is reason enough to abandon your identity.
* You can rearrange your whole schedule to avoid those that you irrationally fear.
* It's okay to use people if they are using you back.
* With great power comes the ability to threaten, bully, and enslave.
Though not all of the characters put up with Flory's crap, none really put her in her place, and I'm not left with the impression that she has learned anything or developed into a positive role model. Maybe she's not meant to be.
March 20, 2013
This was a great read! Quinn, 6.5 years, really enjoyed the book and the many animals that the fairy encounters. The fairy, Flory, is young and learning as she grows and has many important experiences. There are experiences with learning to be a friend, not always getting what you want, learning to trust after your feelings (and your wings) have been hurt (accidentally eaten).
It is told in such an adventurous and non-condescending way that I felt like we were learning these things with her. Trying to figure out who was trustworthy and how she would solve and survive the challenges she encounters. We also get a better understanding of the ecosystem and laws of nature that exist in our own backyards.
I really loved this book and enjoyed my daughter's thrill of the adventures as well.
It is told in such an adventurous and non-condescending way that I felt like we were learning these things with her. Trying to figure out who was trustworthy and how she would solve and survive the challenges she encounters. We also get a better understanding of the ecosystem and laws of nature that exist in our own backyards.
I really loved this book and enjoyed my daughter's thrill of the adventures as well.
January 21, 2014
Flory, la piccola fata notturna, è in un terribile guaio. Un pipistrello le ha strappato le ali e il buio è pieno di suoni spaventosi. Che fare? Potrebbe provare a diventare una fata diurna, ma anche il giorno non è privo di insidie e pericoli…
Breve incantevole fiaba, scritta benissimo. Tutto è relativo: un tranquillo giardino, visto attraverso gli occhi di una minuscola fata bambina, diventa un luogo selvaggio e meraviglioso, dove la sopravvivenza del più forte è a discapito del più debole. Nella lettura ho avvertito il bisogno di qualche immagine in più. Le poche illustrazioni presenti, opera della bravissima Angela Barrett, sono penalizzate da un formato ridotto. Nondimeno, la storia incanta e si legge in un soffio.
Breve incantevole fiaba, scritta benissimo. Tutto è relativo: un tranquillo giardino, visto attraverso gli occhi di una minuscola fata bambina, diventa un luogo selvaggio e meraviglioso, dove la sopravvivenza del più forte è a discapito del più debole. Nella lettura ho avvertito il bisogno di qualche immagine in più. Le poche illustrazioni presenti, opera della bravissima Angela Barrett, sono penalizzate da un formato ridotto. Nondimeno, la storia incanta e si legge in un soffio.
August 4, 2014
By a Newbery Medal Winner, this is a wonderful fairy tale, literally, that melds classic poetic prose with a contemporary slant. Flory, the main character, is a Night Fairy whose wings become damaged, so she is forced to rely on others. A good little moral about reliance and dominance with a strong female role makes this a wonderful book for kids who love fairies or fantasy. (As an adult, I enjoyed the story's imaginative details as well.) I picked this up at a library sale because of the gorgeous illustrations by English artist Angela Barrett. One of those books I suspect that gets handed down to the next generation.
April 24, 2012
I think my kids liked this one a bit more than I did. The fairy is as my 8 yo said, "not very nice most of the time". I did like the resolution with the bat at the end, and appreciated that she does help the hummingbird...so I guess she did show some growth near the end. It is a short read but failed to really draw us in.
July 21, 2018
Read this first with my 3rd grade granddaughter, and it was so beautiful and imaginative, I ordered myself a copy!
November 4, 2009
Charming! Perfect for her target audience.
May 7, 2011
Beautiful, lyrical and original. Thinking of little girls who will adore this and finding many.
August 19, 2025
Oh, to be a fairy…
February 24, 2018
Wonderful story. Beautiful illustrations.
April 12, 2013
When bat Peregrine accidentally chews off her wings, night fairy Flory tries to manage during the day. her spells not yet grown, like "the little white teeth that sprout from a baby's gums" p19. Our real world can include believable magic, when the back yard of an old lady "giantess", who feeds birds and keeps goldfish in a fountain, includes a Niagara Falls souvenir wren house with a non-avian resident fairy. Brave, resourceful, rude, selfish, Flory copes admirably with mutilation, disability, isolation, danger - all harsh lessons in the human world.
Illustrations add to delight. Every chapter starts with a gray silhouette, 2 knuckle-to-fingertips in height x 1 wide, of pertinent focus, squirrel, hummingbird, whatever. Most vibrant garden paintings are one page, but the best covers both sides. Four pages add biographical facts.
Though her frizzy mop is drawn shorter than shoulder-length attributed to her when height doubles to two acorns, she looks dainty, delicate, lean, wiry, strong - and fast - in drawing too. Her red peony dress is a vivid favorite. She makes a cozy home, soft petal gowns, friends. She rescues innocents, and belongs. What more could a reader want for a happy ending?
Illustrations add to delight. Every chapter starts with a gray silhouette, 2 knuckle-to-fingertips in height x 1 wide, of pertinent focus, squirrel, hummingbird, whatever. Most vibrant garden paintings are one page, but the best covers both sides. Four pages add biographical facts.
Though her frizzy mop is drawn shorter than shoulder-length attributed to her when height doubles to two acorns, she looks dainty, delicate, lean, wiry, strong - and fast - in drawing too. Her red peony dress is a vivid favorite. She makes a cozy home, soft petal gowns, friends. She rescues innocents, and belongs. What more could a reader want for a happy ending?
October 19, 2014
Flory is an acorn sized night fairy. One night she was mistaken for a bug by a bat and lost her wings. She decided to become a day fairy. After being attacked by a bat, Flory feels that she needs to defend herself and discovers a stinging spell. She uses this spell to train a squirrel named Skuggle. Flory rides the squirrel around the garden, or the "giants" yard, which is the setting for the story. She gets bored of not being able to fly, so she tries to tame a hummingbird, but it doesn't go as planned. Throughout this story we learn about all of the challenges that being a day fairy can bring and how they change Flory's attitude and behaviors.
This book puts a great spin on the portrayal of fairies. Flory begins as a very self-centered and uncivilized fairy. Through her journeys she learns social skills and how to interact with others. The author does a great job of not just creating an exciting adventure story, but adding life lessons in as well. The cover is beautifully illustrated and there are a few pictures to break up the text and help the reader visualize the story.
This book puts a great spin on the portrayal of fairies. Flory begins as a very self-centered and uncivilized fairy. Through her journeys she learns social skills and how to interact with others. The author does a great job of not just creating an exciting adventure story, but adding life lessons in as well. The cover is beautifully illustrated and there are a few pictures to break up the text and help the reader visualize the story.
May 19, 2010
A little gem of a book. I had heard excellent things about this one, and I wasn't disappointed. Librarian/author Laura Amy Schlitz has her pulse on what girl readers like--fairies with moxie. This heroine, Flory, is a night fairy who is injured at the beginning of the story and has no more wings, forcing her to live in a human's garden in a birdhouse and learn new ways to survive by befriending various gigantic animals in the garden. Hans Christian Anderson fans won't be able to help comparing this fable with Thumbelina--a tiny girl who gets her wings at the end of the story after interacting with all sorts of gigantic animals. However, this is a 21st century fairy--much less meek than Thumbelina, one who is not afraid to rumble with giant spiders and other creatures who want to eat her. The illustrations and design of this book are extraordinary--the whole book reminds me of a medieval book of hours, with the beautifully detailed illustrations that are integral to the story. A perfect book for lovers of fairy tales...
November 23, 2011
The Night Fairy tells the story of Flory. Flory is a night fairy who loses her wings to a bat. She ends up living in the garden of a giantress where she makes new friends and hates bats.
Flory is a very strong and stubborn fairy. I really like her character. She is the exact portrait of how I first pictured fairies. Flory is also very resourceful. She does what she can with she has. Because of the loss of her wings, Flory has to change her entire lifestyle.
I find this story to be extremely charming. The magic and love of nature displayed is absolutely splendid. This book has such a simplicity within the story, yet it is carried out with such beautiful craftsmanship. The words transport you into the garden and make you just the perfect size to enjoy it all.
Barrett's illustrations are divine. My personal favorite can be found in Chapter 10, pg. 112-113.
The cover art is eye-catching. The delicately feminine texts used add a nice little finishing touch.
Overall, this book was very enjoyable. Any fan of fairies will be delighted with the tale of Flory. =)
Flory is a very strong and stubborn fairy. I really like her character. She is the exact portrait of how I first pictured fairies. Flory is also very resourceful. She does what she can with she has. Because of the loss of her wings, Flory has to change her entire lifestyle.
I find this story to be extremely charming. The magic and love of nature displayed is absolutely splendid. This book has such a simplicity within the story, yet it is carried out with such beautiful craftsmanship. The words transport you into the garden and make you just the perfect size to enjoy it all.
Barrett's illustrations are divine. My personal favorite can be found in Chapter 10, pg. 112-113.
The cover art is eye-catching. The delicately feminine texts used add a nice little finishing touch.
Overall, this book was very enjoyable. Any fan of fairies will be delighted with the tale of Flory. =)
July 28, 2010
This book is an absolute gem, a thin but delicious read about a Night Fairy named Florry, who looses her wings. No longer able to roam the twilight skies, she takes refuge in a human garden, buzzing with many dangers such as bats, spiders and angry raccoons.
In the garden, however, she makes quite a life for herself, even though she is banned from the sky. Befriending a ravenous squirrel, a hummingbird, and a bat, she learns that appearance isn't everything, and what a real friendship is made out of.
This book was great! I listened to it on tape. It was only 2 hours long, but I loved it. The descriptions are fantastic, as well as the development of the characters. The words flow like strong rivers. I really liked the narrator, Michael Friedman. She did a wonderful job!
I sincerely hope if you listen/read to this wonderful gem, you'll like it as much as I did!
In the garden, however, she makes quite a life for herself, even though she is banned from the sky. Befriending a ravenous squirrel, a hummingbird, and a bat, she learns that appearance isn't everything, and what a real friendship is made out of.
This book was great! I listened to it on tape. It was only 2 hours long, but I loved it. The descriptions are fantastic, as well as the development of the characters. The words flow like strong rivers. I really liked the narrator, Michael Friedman. She did a wonderful job!
I sincerely hope if you listen/read to this wonderful gem, you'll like it as much as I did!
March 10, 2010
What I wrote when I read the galley:
Cannot wait to see the illustrations. Already one of my favorite books of next year, and it isn't even next year yet.
March 2010:
Finally, my own finished copy, given by a loved one. The illustrations are as beauteous as I had hoped, and the silvery blue endpapers are just the most luscious endpapers I have ever seen.
Reading a second time, I find it even more engaging, if that's possible. Schlitz is as mesmerizing a storyteller as I have ever read, and if you ever get to hear her tell a story live, don't miss it.
What I loved best, perhaps, is how Flory works out solutions to some pretty intractable problems, using her head, her fairy gifts, and her heart.
Cannot wait to see the illustrations. Already one of my favorite books of next year, and it isn't even next year yet.
March 2010:
Finally, my own finished copy, given by a loved one. The illustrations are as beauteous as I had hoped, and the silvery blue endpapers are just the most luscious endpapers I have ever seen.
Reading a second time, I find it even more engaging, if that's possible. Schlitz is as mesmerizing a storyteller as I have ever read, and if you ever get to hear her tell a story live, don't miss it.
What I loved best, perhaps, is how Flory works out solutions to some pretty intractable problems, using her head, her fairy gifts, and her heart.
March 24, 2010
I can't believe that I didn't add this to my list months ago. It is a perfect combination of pictures and text and the book-making makes it a really elegant package, for a very special fairy, created by a very special author. Laura's word choice is always "spot on", who else would put herself in the story and call her diminutive self a "giantess". Flory's innocence and ferocity are quite a combination for a young fairy thrust out into a dangerous but wonderful world with opportunities to fly on hummingbirds and find out that some supposed enemies are really friends. Readers will be transported away, certainly I was.
April 13, 2010
Beautiful and sweet. I wasn't expecting to like this nearly as much as I did, and I also wasn't expecting to gobble it all up in one sitting. Young readers looking for adventure will like seeing Flory riding a hummingbird, and hearing about her exploits with all sorts of animals, and young readers who are more "girly" will appreciate seeing all of her flower garments hanging up at the end, in the last illustration. Young fans of STELLALUNA will like the happy (this is slightly spolier-y) ending with the bat. The book's size and wing themes remind me of CAT WINGS, but I like this even better. Reading this was an unexpectedly nice birthday treat for me!
December 17, 2010
When Flory, a tiny Night Fairy no bigger than an acorn, is nearly eaten by a confused brown bat, she finds herself wingless and trapped in a garden. Spunky and determined, she makes a home in an empty birdhouse and tries to live as a Day Fairy. Her challenges and adventures are related in simple, flowing language matching the timeless fairy-tale feel of the story. The watercolor illustrations bring the scenes to vivid life.
Schlitz tells a lovely story with lessons about resiliency, friendship, and growing up without ever preaching to the reader. This slim chapter book would be a wonderful, slightly more sophisticated choice for fans of the many fairy books currently available.
Schlitz tells a lovely story with lessons about resiliency, friendship, and growing up without ever preaching to the reader. This slim chapter book would be a wonderful, slightly more sophisticated choice for fans of the many fairy books currently available.
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