Daisy's Decorating Dilemma

Wild Fairies #1

by Brandi Dougherty, Renee Kurilla (Illustrator)

Prepare your wings and listen the wild fairies are now in bloom and popping up in a forest near you!

Spring is in the air in Sugar Oak! Green buds grow on the trees, the temperature is warm, and all of the fairies' animal friends have come out to play. But before the fairies can smell the flowers and soak in the sun, they must plan the biggest party of the year−the Blossom Bash! Normally, Daisy would love leading her fairy friends, but when each of the fairies has a different vision for the bash's decorations, she's left stumped. Daisy has a difficult decision to make, and with first bloom right around the corner, she better decide quickly!

Genres: Fantasy, Chapter Books, Childrens, Middle Grade, Fairies, Fiction

96 pages, Paperback

Published May 7, 2019

Reviews

[Alina Karapandzich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great early-reader chapter books! Would be perfect for 1st-2nd grade and the full page, full color illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and add a lot of excitement and color to the already colorful story line. Reminds me a lot of the Tinker Bell book series because this series also follows a group of fairy friends who live in a grove but these characters are still pretty unique from those in the Tinker Bell series--plus, this is for younger readers.

[Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is Spring and the wild fairies of Sugar Oak are preparing for the Blossom Bash, a big neighborhood party to greet the new Spring season. Daisy is in charge of the decorations but after hearing so many great suggestions from her fairy friends, she just can't decide what will work best.

This series starter is super cute with amazing illustrations on every page and a group of fun flower fairies that are the best of friends!

Each character is introduced in a way that makes it easy to know who is who among the friends, with Daisy as the main character, and each fairy has a critter pal that matches them in color and style. With illustrations on every single page, this makes a great chapter book for beginner readers. There are eleven short chapters in all.

There are also extras at the end of the book that includes a couple of pages 'all about honey', a recipe for one of the yummy desserts in the story, a step by step how-to-draw Daisy, a spot the difference game, and more!

My daughter loved reading this together! We flew through it and really enjoyed the extras at the end. She loved how colorful and beautiful the pictures were and can't wait to continue on to the sequel, Lily's Water Woes, which features the unique mermaid fairy in this story!


This review was originally shared on Lazy Day Literature.

[Tegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reminded me a lot of Tinker Bell. This will be great for fans of Tinker Bell, and anyone who enjoys nature. A good lesson about problem solving.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute little book with a nice message about special being better than perfect. My favorite thing, however, is the illustrations - I love that the fairies' wings are the leaves of the flowers they take their names from.

[Rick Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daisy in in the leader for the annual Blossom Bash, which the fairies are in charge of hosting this year. It's a bit tricky because the bash is supposed to happen when the first flowers of spring are blooming. There is a lot of preparation to be done, and all the recent rain means that the first blooms are on their way soon.

This was a fairly straightforward story that introduced the characters and the world, which is beautifully brought to life by illustrator Renee Kurilla.

There are some good lessons about delegating responsibility, avoiding excess worry, and accepting that something can be good and special without it necessarily being "perfect".

I read this with the Kiddo, who particularly liked the insect/animal companions of the fairy characters.

[Maranda Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this one! It came in a children's book subscription box I get and at first I figured it would be a little dull like many of these fairy and magic related chapter books series seem to be unfortunately, but I actually enjoyed the characters and the story. My one complaint would be that I would have appreciated being told up front who was who as far as the characters go, instead of having it listed at the end. Some of the characters were easy to figure out due to the illustrations or their color-related names, but a few weren't as easy as that.

Maranda Russell/Author, Artist & Blogger

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Emily read this one before me and told me that she was not impressed by the fairies; why could they not figure out how to decorate for a party, which is such a silly problem? We talked about how some things sound easy to her but are harder for other people... then I read the book and LOL, they really set it up like Blue's Clues with the answer right in the reader's face. At one point, I thought the problem would be Daisy talking to Poppy about her anxiety and how it makes others anxious, let's recognize our fears but also be brave... NOPE. Not addressed at all. Poor anxious Poppy! On the plus side, the illustrations are beautiful and colorful!

[Raven Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adorable story about fairies, friendship, helping each other and asking for help. The science sneaks into the tale in a fun manner and there is an afterwards that helps you learn more about the characters, but also a bit about the flowers they represent. This is the first in the Wild Fairies series, but I had read book two first and you can mostly do it out of order. I have not found anything after book two, but hopefully there was/will be. The sweet illustrations give this book a bit of "girly" stereotype look, but works for the tone of the story, which is old school "fairy stories about friendship."

[Ishika Tiwari · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the first book, Daisy and Sugar Oak Fairies are prepping up for the Big Blossom Bash, everyone is diligently engrossed in their duties as Spring season is making its appearance. Daisy has to manage the event this year, but will she be able to? Find out in this adventurous and bubbly tale of friendship and life.

[Jason June · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this magical world that Dougherty has created and all the varying personalities and intricacies she has given her characters. Paired with Kurilla's illustrations, this adorable world really sings!

[Danica Midlil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids and I read this together today. They were enthralled. I love that it included a non-fiction note about honey! We even tried the recipe at the back for the Honey Cakes, which I butchered beyond belief somehow...

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming story with lovely illustrations

This chapter book is a charming story about friends working together. The illustrations are frame worthy, and there are fun tidbits and activities at the back of the book.

[Ruby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read for independent readers.
Beautiful illustrations, lengthy chapters and a sweet story

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adorable story and artwork.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish there had been more gender balance among the fairies. I think Thistle was the only boy fairy, compared to at least 7 girl fairies.

Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher at ALA Midwinter 2018.

[Miss Readalot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely lovely lovely🌹

[Waldwandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 stars for the colored illustrations