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Flower Fairies
Flower Fairies of the Winter: A Celebration
One of the most popular collections of Cicely Mary Barker's work is now available in a handsome new edition featuring improved reproductions of the artist's work. The collection showcases Barker's detailed, lush illustrations, includes her sketches and botanical notes about each flower, and has an introduction with facts about the artist's life.
80 pages, Hardcover
Published September 22, 2003
8 people are currently reading
609 people want to read
About the author
Cicely Mary Barker
272 books326 followersCicely Mary Barker was the illustrator who created the famous Flower Fairies; those ethereal smiling children with butterfly wings. As a child she was influenced by the works of the illustrator Kate Greenaway, whom she assiduously copied in her formative years. Her principal influence, however, was the artwork of the Pre-Raphaelites.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
August 22, 2025
Everything about this book (series) is perfect!
The illustrations are breathtaking, enchanting and, beautifully detailed. The poems are sweet, wise, and cleverly written!
One of my favorite aspects about these lovely little books is how they’re a wonderful way to learn about the different flowers, trees, and plants each fairy represents!
Thank you Cicely Mary Baker for sharing your flower fairies with us 🥹✨
The illustrations are breathtaking, enchanting and, beautifully detailed. The poems are sweet, wise, and cleverly written!
One of my favorite aspects about these lovely little books is how they’re a wonderful way to learn about the different flowers, trees, and plants each fairy represents!
Thank you Cicely Mary Baker for sharing your flower fairies with us 🥹✨
November 5, 2019
Cicely did not finish this Fairy book on Winter. She did make drawings of the trees and flowers that make up the winter season. The editor took these drawings and used poems from other collections she had to make up the Winter book so all 4 seasons have a voice.
Winter is one of my favorite times of year. I’m glad this book is here. I think these little books are beautiful and the poems are fun to read. It is a great little book to enhance the mood of the season and remember the plants that make them up. I do want to collect all these books.
The niece saw I had this book and she wanted to read this with me for old times, so we did. She loves them too. She gave this one 3 stars.
Winter is one of my favorite times of year. I’m glad this book is here. I think these little books are beautiful and the poems are fun to read. It is a great little book to enhance the mood of the season and remember the plants that make them up. I do want to collect all these books.
The niece saw I had this book and she wanted to read this with me for old times, so we did. She loves them too. She gave this one 3 stars.
April 30, 2021
And so we have the arrival of the winter season and it's as lovely as the other three. Apparently, the author never released a winter volume to go with her spring, summer and autumn books but her publisher put together this collection by selecting poems from her other works that fit the bill after her death. You'd never know the difference and I'm certain Barker would have approved.
The Song of the Snowdrop Fairy
Deep sleeps the Winter,
Cold. wet and grey;
Surely all the world is dead;
Spring is far away.
Wait! the world shall waken;
It is not dead, for lo,
The Fair Maids of February
Stand in the snow!
My next book: Tales From the Folly
The Song of the Snowdrop Fairy
Deep sleeps the Winter,
Cold. wet and grey;
Surely all the world is dead;
Spring is far away.
Wait! the world shall waken;
It is not dead, for lo,
The Fair Maids of February
Stand in the snow!
My next book: Tales From the Folly
December 26, 2021
Много сладка и малка книжка с поеми за деца между 5 и 7 години. За разлика от стихосбирките за възрастни, където поемите нямат никакъв смисъл, всъщност тези са много приятни за четене, та ги разбираш, осмисляш и засмиваш на места чак. :Р
Илюстрациите към всяка поема са просто разкошни. Малко бижу е тази книжка. Пълно с вдъхновение и красота. Определено всичките останали книжки от серията плюс останалите книжки от авторката, които набарам ще си ги купя. Просто се влюбих. ^^
Илюстрациите към всяка поема са просто разкошни. Малко бижу е тази книжка. Пълно с вдъхновение и красота. Определено всичките останали книжки от серията плюс останалите книжки от авторката, които набарам ще си ги купя. Просто се влюбих. ^^
December 26, 2019
Absolutely gorgeous little book, full of lovely songs/poems, and charming illustrations. Magical!
February 14, 2024
kjempefine illustrasjoner!
January 25, 2025
Full of whimsy and magical illustrations.
“One by one my leaves must fall:
Soon the wind will take them all.
Soon must fairies shut their eyes
For the Winter’s hushabies;
But, before the Autumn goes,
Spindles turns to flame and rose!”
Nature poems will always be my favorite to read and write.
“One by one my leaves must fall:
Soon the wind will take them all.
Soon must fairies shut their eyes
For the Winter’s hushabies;
But, before the Autumn goes,
Spindles turns to flame and rose!”
Nature poems will always be my favorite to read and write.
February 23, 2022
Re-read 3 (23-2-2022)
No matter how many times I re-read this I keep loving this book. The art is stunning and the poems are cute, and it's so nice to read about the different plants in this way.
old review:
This is probably my favourite out of the seasonal Flower Fairies books. The poems are all really cute and the drawings are just incredible. I didn't know much about winter plants, so it was nice to read a bit more about them. Overall a really nice ending to the Seasonal Flower Fairies books (even if Cicely Mary Barker never published it as such herself)
No matter how many times I re-read this I keep loving this book. The art is stunning and the poems are cute, and it's so nice to read about the different plants in this way.
old review:
This is probably my favourite out of the seasonal Flower Fairies books. The poems are all really cute and the drawings are just incredible. I didn't know much about winter plants, so it was nice to read a bit more about them. Overall a really nice ending to the Seasonal Flower Fairies books (even if Cicely Mary Barker never published it as such herself)
December 30, 2021
falling leaves r a common theme. also berries
January 7, 2023
Lovely and timeless poems and illustrations 🧚🏼♀️❄️
I plan to read each season of fairy books as the seasons themselves change throughout the year.
I plan to read each season of fairy books as the seasons themselves change throughout the year.
April 18, 2023
Cuteness overload with the winter fairies
April 23, 2019
I have loved Barker's fairy books and fairy illustrations for a long time, so I appreciated this short collection of winter poems paired with the appropriate fairy.
August 15, 2025
3.5
I liked the poems a bit more than the Autumn poems, the fairies themselves is about the same as the Autumn ones.
I liked the poems a bit more than the Autumn poems, the fairies themselves is about the same as the Autumn ones.
April 8, 2019
I was a bit worried at the outset of this book - what flowers legitimately bloom in winter - but Barker deftly sidesteps the question and focuses on the winter forms of a few flowering plants (post-flower fairies, if you will), wintering berries, and a few flowers that herald the coming of spring. The fairies which started off this book were not particularly interesting, being mostly comprised of dull brown and wintered green tones, and echoing the bland tones with expected poses, but barker hit a better stride further into the collection. The tricksy Burdock fairy was one of my faovurites (how can you resist his impish charm and pointy attire) and the story that accompanied the rush-grass and cotton-grass fairies (our first duo) was a nice echo of country folk lore. Barker rounds out the collection with a jaunty holly fairy, whose costume is absolutely adore in its impracticality, but I could have done without the typical and uninspired Christmas tree fairy. At least we are finally left looking towards Spring again with the Winter aconite fairy - like him we can't wait for Winter to end!
October 17, 2018
O, flower fairies! I have read bits and pieces from Barker's Flower Fairies over the years, but never in one neat little volume. I enjoyed this very much and will put the books of the other three seasons on my to-read list. These books are every bit as whimsical as one might imagine. Yes, the art and poetry contained herein is quite of the old school... but if you are, or ever were, a fan of fairies and magical creatures of the woods and garden, you will understand the appeal here, despite the datedness of the whole thing. Content was originally produced from the 1920s through the 1940s--every fairy is White, and very fair-skinned at that; poetry is most definitely from another century--not surprising on either count, but worth mentioning here.
Yet I think young fairy enthusiasts will go for these, even in the era of Tinkerbell and the Disney Fairies. The distinct little size of the volume (same as a classic Beatrix Potter book, also published by Warne) is perfect for small hands and big imaginations.
Thanks to Penguin Young readers for the review copy.
Yet I think young fairy enthusiasts will go for these, even in the era of Tinkerbell and the Disney Fairies. The distinct little size of the volume (same as a classic Beatrix Potter book, also published by Warne) is perfect for small hands and big imaginations.
Thanks to Penguin Young readers for the review copy.
July 25, 2023
A lovely Flower Fairy book. Although this particular book in the series was complied a couple of years after Cicely's death, it is no less beautiful or important.
Truly wintery. Inspiring. Nice to read on a cold day, sitting at the balcony, while playing classical music, and sipping on a hot drink.
✨✨✨✨✨
Truly wintery. Inspiring. Nice to read on a cold day, sitting at the balcony, while playing classical music, and sipping on a hot drink.
✨✨✨✨✨
July 1, 2017
This was a book that was given to me by my sister for our monthly book club. And for such a small book it is a beautiful work both with its simplistic poetry and its beautiful artwork.
The artist introduces you into the world of plants during the autumn season with a detailed yet whimsical picture of the plant with its fairy during that time of the season and a little poem to match. The poem itself isn't just some frivolous words together but simple verses that also contribute to your education of the plant itself.
As a final word this was a good compilation and putting together of a book after the author's death. The use of her work from various other works was a genius stroke that fits in with the other seasonal books.
Love it and will be working to collect the series....
The artist introduces you into the world of plants during the autumn season with a detailed yet whimsical picture of the plant with its fairy during that time of the season and a little poem to match. The poem itself isn't just some frivolous words together but simple verses that also contribute to your education of the plant itself.
As a final word this was a good compilation and putting together of a book after the author's death. The use of her work from various other works was a genius stroke that fits in with the other seasonal books.
Love it and will be working to collect the series....
April 13, 2013
I've had these books forever - must have been given them as a child and they have remained a firm favourite. I really enjoyed revisiting these books. The poems are simple and fun to read, without the contrivance of adult poetry, and the pictures are superb. I guess these books are what fashioned my thoughts on what fairies looked like. My favourite poems are 'Snowdrop', 'Burdock', 'Winter Aconite' and 'Christmas Tree', while I love the pictures for 'Winter Jasmine' and 'Rush-grass and Cotton-grass', but to be honest, there isn't anything here that you could dislike.
March 24, 2015
The beautiful little series amazed me as a little girl. My nan read me this one over the Christmas holidays and made the book a memory of a great Christmas spent with my grandparents.
I liked the Winter edition simply because of the festive theme to it. My favourite poem was the one about the fairy on top of the Christmas tree.
I just wished that Barker would have considered doing a story. The poems were beautiful, but a story conbining the fairies would have been magical!
I liked the Winter edition simply because of the festive theme to it. My favourite poem was the one about the fairy on top of the Christmas tree.
I just wished that Barker would have considered doing a story. The poems were beautiful, but a story conbining the fairies would have been magical!
January 20, 2016
This is a book originally published in England in 1985. The author had never published a book for winter fairies herself, so one was compiled and published after her death.
The book contains little poems and drawings of fairies associated with particular winter flowers. There are twenty fairies in this book. All the fairy drawings are in color.
As with the other books, there are some notes added to some of the poems, particularly noting any of the fruits that are poisonous.
The book contains little poems and drawings of fairies associated with particular winter flowers. There are twenty fairies in this book. All the fairy drawings are in color.
As with the other books, there are some notes added to some of the poems, particularly noting any of the fruits that are poisonous.
April 23, 2015
This is probably my (second) favorite of the Flower Fairies books. I think it has the best illustrations and the most marvelous and enticing poems. Barker successfully entwines the beauty of winter flowers and the enchantment and magic of fairies into each and every page. The language and structure of each poem is lovely and sweet...I had to go back and read it a second time.
February 17, 2018
Cicely Mary Barker did not create a Flower Fairies of the Winter book herself. This was put together after her death, so you might recognise fairies that already feature in her other books. It is still an illustrative delight and teaches the names and habits of flowers. It does mean there is a flower fairy book for every season.
January 30, 2016
Fun, simple poems.
2016: I was excited to re-read this childhood favorite to my own son. Even at a year and a half, he enjoyed this book and loved to look at the pictures as I read. It was so fun to have this poetry to introduce him to.
2016: I was excited to re-read this childhood favorite to my own son. Even at a year and a half, he enjoyed this book and loved to look at the pictures as I read. It was so fun to have this poetry to introduce him to.
August 2, 2007
Magnificent illustration. Accurate description and portrayal of interesting plants. Barker's works always manage to take my breath away.
July 14, 2009
Well, not so much "read" as "looked at the beautiful, beautiful illustrations"! These books are just gorgeous. A must for every girly-girl :)
January 25, 2012
These flower fairy books are just wonderful! I like the illustrations and the poems.
February 24, 2012
This is a small book of poetry about fairies. All the poems are nice and the illustrations are just beautiful. I loved the illustrations.
October 17, 2017
All of the flower fairies books are so sweet. Always a nice break from work.
August 8, 2018
Of course I'd give this book a 5 star review! The series I'm in love with because of the imaginative qualities and color of the illustrations. My hat is off to Cicely Mary Barker!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews