3.75 Stars!
I've never read The Storybook Fairies series, so this was really fun for me! I think it's interesting that they went with four books for this series rather than the usual seven, and the fairy tales that they chose were really unexpected. I thought they'd take a look at the four most popular Disney princesses and run with it, but instead they with fairy tales that kids would find somewhat familiar, but not be too well-versed in. I actually didn't even know what the original story of Thumbelina was, I only watched the Barbie movie.
There were a lot of things that I liked about this book, but let's start with the cover. This is my favourite Rainbow Magic! The cover that I'm looking at isn't actually on GoodReads, but it's a really pretty purple to teal gradient where Elle's wings can stand out more. Also, I love Elle's design, she absolutely has the best hair. And I could be wrong, but she has thimbles flying out of her wand, and if they're not thimbles I don't care, I say they are. I actually thought that was going to be her item, but then they had it be a thumb ring and I was like, okay yeah I guess.
Something else that I really liked about this book, and probably the series overall, is the new locations aka the Fairyland library (going on my Pinterest board!) and the Storybook World with Thumbelina's cottage, Rapunzel's tower, etc.
I'm not an artist by any means, but I would like to still talk about the illustrations.
-I think that it's so great to start off with Kirsty doing a cartwheel on the first page and also, her romper looks really cute. But why was Rachel's hair drawn the way that it was? I will never not find it funny that the front of Rachel's hair is so detailed, but the back is literally three squiggles, which just gets funnier because she has this massive scrunchie. Rachel deserved better.
-The storybook festival is something that I wish actually existed because it looks so cool. Imagine being a little kid and there are tents for you to go into but they're all shaped like books and there are so many other things that follow the theme - pencil fences, book cushions and a wholeass bench shaped like a book (that has writing on it!).
-That image of the other three storybook fairies will now live rent-free in my head.
-Thumbelina's cottage is super cute! The detail on the wooden furniture is really nice, I like that there's a stone floor and there's even a little mouse hole.
-I don't remember ever seeing an illustration of their fairy wings being folded back/in while they're sitting, so that was a fun surprise.
-I love the prince's flower petal wings!
-Thumbelina's wedding dress is GORGEOUS, but I'm just wondering why she's wearing a veil made from cobweb? It's cute, but like, is there some sort of significance to that or...? And their engagement rings are made from dewdrop, I can't!
Things that I have to mention or my head will explode:
-Of course the flower prince is a cousin of the Petal Fairies (I should re-read the Petal Fairies series).
-"no bigger than human thumb" - we get it, she's Thumbelina
-Rachel and Kirsty should be in charge of the universe, honestly, the way they get things done? No one else could ever.
-The goblins "dressing up" for the "wedding". I think the goblins are always a delight, but this book, in particular, makes me like them a lot. The "groom" in his moth-eaten tie and friend showing up in vests that are definitely cutting off all circulation, but their little smiles are so sweet! Also, the goblin who was the groom wasn't even salty in the end, he was crying because he just loves weddings, STOP.