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Fairy Houses
Fairy Houses
What would happen if you built a house for the fairies to live in? Would they come to visit? Kristen is in for a surprise when she sets out to build a fairy house in the woods. Nature wants to get in on the act with her own special cast of characters! Follow Kristen’s story of discovery to its enchanting conclusion. A special section on how to get started with your own fairy house is also included.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2001
3 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 16, 2019
Accompanying her parents to a small Maine island for a week's vacation, Kristen discovers a wonderful world of tiny woodland fairy houses, and is inspired to create one of her own. Checking back on it regularly, she adds improvements - berries to tempt the fairies to take up residence, a little pool of water to refresh them - always hoping that she might catch a glimpse of the elusive creatures. At first, all she sees are the woodland animals who enjoy the treats she sets out. And then, on the last day of vacation, something extraordinary happens...
I think that I may just be the wrong audience for this one, because although I can see the appeal of Tracy Kane's Fairy Houses, and imagine that young readers who love the idea of fairies, and are convinced of their reality, will really take it to heart, I just wasn't all that impressed. I liked the message of respecting nature, that can be found in the story, and I liked the idea of building little fairy houses from organic, non-living materials, but the story and artwork just didn't do much for me. Still, I have one of the companion volumes - Fairy Houses... Everywhere! - checked out, and its photographs of actual fairy houses may be more my style. We'll see...
I think that I may just be the wrong audience for this one, because although I can see the appeal of Tracy Kane's Fairy Houses, and imagine that young readers who love the idea of fairies, and are convinced of their reality, will really take it to heart, I just wasn't all that impressed. I liked the message of respecting nature, that can be found in the story, and I liked the idea of building little fairy houses from organic, non-living materials, but the story and artwork just didn't do much for me. Still, I have one of the companion volumes - Fairy Houses... Everywhere! - checked out, and its photographs of actual fairy houses may be more my style. We'll see...
January 20, 2022
Such a cute book! Miss S loved the fairy house stories! I can already see the fairy houses we will be building in the backyard come spring. ❤️🧚♀️
March 11, 2012
On a family vacation, Kristen's parents take her to a special place in the woods - a place where fairy houses abound, and where you're welcome to build a fairy home yourself, provided you use only items found in nature, and only non-living items.
So, Kristen builds a fairy house, and while the animals of the woods seem to love it, the fairies don't come. So, Kristen keeps trying to improve the home, and she keeps waiting, and waiting...
It's really the idea of this book that I enjoyed, and the fact that I didn't exactly know how it would end up (something that doesn't happen very often in picture books) that bumped this up to four stars, for me. I probably got three stars of enjoyment out of it, but I really liked the fact that it can inspire children to go outside and build something fantastical from the things nature leaves them.
I adore fairy houses, and as someone who's now an adult (at least, by the rest of the world's standards) I found myself wanting to go outside and build a fairy house of my own :)
(another "go outside and make stuff" type book that I loved is "Mud Pies and Other Recipes" by Marjorie Winslow - it's not about fairy houses, but rather a collection of "natural" recipes any doll would love).
So, Kristen builds a fairy house, and while the animals of the woods seem to love it, the fairies don't come. So, Kristen keeps trying to improve the home, and she keeps waiting, and waiting...
It's really the idea of this book that I enjoyed, and the fact that I didn't exactly know how it would end up (something that doesn't happen very often in picture books) that bumped this up to four stars, for me. I probably got three stars of enjoyment out of it, but I really liked the fact that it can inspire children to go outside and build something fantastical from the things nature leaves them.
I adore fairy houses, and as someone who's now an adult (at least, by the rest of the world's standards) I found myself wanting to go outside and build a fairy house of my own :)
(another "go outside and make stuff" type book that I loved is "Mud Pies and Other Recipes" by Marjorie Winslow - it's not about fairy houses, but rather a collection of "natural" recipes any doll would love).
October 27, 2009
This book and I got off on the wrong foot because there’s a sticker on the front that says: “companion to the critically acclaimed video Kristen’s Fairy House” so I felt as though the book had been an afterthought to the video. Also, at the end the related website is mentioned: www.fairyhouses.com, and the book felt less like a book and more like a promotion.
However, the concept proposed is great fun, and I love how it encourages kids to live with the natural world and participate in an activity that might benefit some of its residents. The book is a good catalyst for kids to get out there and make their own fairy houses. It could be an enjoyable project.
I can’t decide whether or not I like the illustrations. The style doesn’t differ but on some pages I really liked them and on some pages I was less than impressed.
Children who are fascinated by nature (and fairies) will probably enjoy this book.
However, the concept proposed is great fun, and I love how it encourages kids to live with the natural world and participate in an activity that might benefit some of its residents. The book is a good catalyst for kids to get out there and make their own fairy houses. It could be an enjoyable project.
I can’t decide whether or not I like the illustrations. The style doesn’t differ but on some pages I really liked them and on some pages I was less than impressed.
Children who are fascinated by nature (and fairies) will probably enjoy this book.
September 23, 2023
My daughter went outside and made her own “fairy house” the next day.
June 4, 2010
This one was met with awed silence interspersed with thoughtful questions from all three of my girls. I love that this story book is followed by a small section with ideas and suggestions for building our own fairy houses.
August 8, 2010
Great book. Mixture of nature and fantasy. My kids would like to build a fairy house.
September 21, 2012
My daughter Chrissy who is 7, says Fairy House is "awesome and makes me want to build a fairy house."
September 9, 2019
Read this while waiting at the hairdresser's, because, yes, I will read almost anything. I personally would have preferred if the "fairies" hadn't appeared, even if it can be put down to a dream, as she closes her eyes, opens them, and then closes them again. It would be a much stronger book with just the animals using the fairy house in all the different ways they do. Connect kids to nature, great. Raise them with unrealistic expectations that they're going to see fairies...um...pass.
Want to read
June 30, 2021
December 31, 2016
A lovely, imaginative story about a young girl building a fairy house. Wonderful for young nature lovers
September 9, 2019
DNF... so hard to get through... only got 6 pages in...
April 20, 2020
Best book ever
It was so amazing because she keeps on adding to her fairy house so fairy would come to live there but only animals did
It was so amazing because she keeps on adding to her fairy house so fairy would come to live there but only animals did
April 24, 2021
Muy bonito cuento que relata como una niña crea casitas para las hadas en un área boscosa usando sólo los materiales naturales que ya están en el suelo del bosque.
Bonito e inspirador.
Bonito e inspirador.
January 3, 2014
This was a wonderfully sweet book. A little girl goes on vacation with her family and her parents tell her there will be a special treat waiting for her. The treat is that people have built fairy houses and that people are encouraged to build more houses as long as they adhere to the rules of not using pieces that are alive or artificial. The girl, Kristen, starts to build a house and each day she adds to her creation. Each day, she also comes back and finds animals enjoying the pieces that she has put onto her fairy house. It is wonderful reminder to be kind to nature and to find joy in outdoor activities.
December 19, 2014
We all really loved the ideas in ties book and can't wait to go on a Forest hike and build our own Fairy Houses! My only complaint would be the image quality. Every image was blurry... Bad copy camera work?!?
March 11, 2008
I wish I'd thought to do this when I was a kid. It sounds like fun!
November 18, 2008
This book is just magical, and now my daughter builds fairy houses everywhere!
July 8, 2014
Ah, this no doubt explains the fairy houses at the library. Interesting idea, for a way to focus on the small scale of nature.
July 29, 2010
Truly magical! Perfect story to read outdoors.
June 9, 2011
www.fairyhouses.com
great story, great ideas for making your own fairy houses.
great story, great ideas for making your own fairy houses.
May 20, 2012
My daughter thoroughly enjoyed this book- she said she loved how the little girl kept going back to check on the houses to see if the fairies were there
January 17, 2013
Loved the story. My 3.5 year old also had a great time hearing the story, and can't wait to make fairy houses in the spring!
May 24, 2013
I enjoyed both the art and the story. Watching the little girl build and add to her fairy house was adorable. Would partner well with the nonfiction book about the Cottingly Fairies.
August 26, 2016
Cute book, it was cool to see a book about building fairy houses, which my kids and I do all the time.
June 30, 2015
I'm not sure which I enjoy more, this book or the related movie Kristen's Fairy House. Great for preschoolers. It's spawned all sorts of outdoor creativity.
January 26, 2016
Wonderful idea - to build houses for fairy's out in the wood, or even on the beach!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews