Shannon's Review - Queen Clarion's Secret

Title: Queen Clarion’s Secret

Series: Tales Of Pixie Hollow #16

Author: Kimberly Morris

Genre: Chapter Book, Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy, Fairies

Publisher: Random House

Received: paperbackswap.com

Release Date: August 2009

Pages: 100

Rating:

Author’s Official Websites:

Kimberly Morris Official Site:

http://www.kimberlymorris.com/

Blog:

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Facebook:

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Twitter:

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Shannon’s Thoughts:

This is the 16th book in the Tales of Pixie Hollow Series but it is the first book in which the character on the cover, and title, is not from their point of view. It is in the point of view of Prilla who notices that the Queen and the precious magical heart seed is missing.

As always the images are beautifully drawn.  The story is sweet.  I am a fan of Prilla the clumsy (their word for humans) fairy.  Prilla runs into Lily and Beck.  Beck is a animal fairy who can talk to all animals and talking to frogs is a hoot!

I was hoping this was a story featuring the Queen as the main character but sometimes you can not have everything.  We get to hear little about Mother Dove which makes up a little for the lack in Queen Clarion’s story.

I love the Disney Fairies movies but I the books I enjoy more because there are more fairies and other characters then the movies.  My wish is that the books continue to be on bookstore shelves for a long time to always enjoy.

Shannon's Review - Beck Beyond The Sea by Kimberly Morris

Title: Beck Beyond The Sea
Series: Disney Fairies
Author: Kimberly Morris
Genre:  Chapter Books, Juvenile Fiction
Publisher:  A Stepping Stone Book
Received: purchased
Release Date: August 2007
Pages: 113
Rating:


What is it About?

Beck is a animal talent fairy.  She can talk to animals and loves meeting new furry friends.  A flock of birds traveling makes Beck wonder if she is missing out by staying in Pixie Hollow.

My Thoughts:

One of the many animal talent fairies, Beck, wonders what else is in the world besides Pixie Hollow. She gets help from another fairy and a flock of birds that travel with her until she realizes where she is really needed.

I have said this before but I love the Disney fairies series more than Disney Princesses.  The fairies find what their purpose is by finding their talent. Princesses kind of wait for fate to decide what their lives may be.   

There are some holes in the story that was left unanswered.  The fact that no one found who was hurting Mother Dove.  Other than that it was a fairly entertaining book.


Website:


Official Disney Fairies Site
http://disney.go.com/fairies/

Review - Rosetta's Daring Day by Lisa Papademetriou

Title: Rosetta’s Daring Day
Series: Disney Fairies
Author: Lisa Papademetriou
Genre: Chapter Book, Children’s Book, Fantasy
Publisher: Random House
Received: Purchased
Release Date: August 2009
Pages: 118
Rating:


What is it About?

Rosetta the garden fairy and her friend Fawn the animal talent fairy are both as different as can be.  One likes to get dirty and play with animals the other likes to stay pretty an neat.  They make a deal to teach the other how to be the opposite testing there friendship.

My Thoughts:

I have to say this one was not one of my favorites.  Usually the Disney Fairies are spot on lessons while the friendship aspect was right the part about facing your fear just felt off to me. Yes they both face there fear and receive an award but in real life the reward is facing your fear you do not always get a reward.   So that part irked me.

I know it’s a kids book but still you are trying to teach kids with these books.  

Website:
http://disney.go.com/fairies/

Fairy School : Fairy Cloud Parade by Gail Herman

Title: Fairy Cloud Parade
Series: Fairy School       
Author: Gail Herman
Genre: Children Book , Chapter Book
Publisher: Skylark
Received: Swapsite
Release Date: May 1999   
Pages: 80
Rating:
 

What is it About?

Olivia is one of the best students at fairy school but she is a little distracted to come up with a new cloud shape because her parents are expecting a twin fairy babies who are more then a handful.

My Thoughts:
What sibling wouldn’t be distracted by the thought of a new baby brother or sister?  For Olivia it’s become more than just a distraction. As a full time baby sitter of her twin brother and sister Olivia’s school work starts to falter.   She has to come up with a new cloud shape for the school’s contest and she just started a new art class.

This book is too cute for words.  As we learn how fairy babies are born in the Fairy School series and how much trouble they can get into we delve into the fun that is the Fairy School world.  As usual all the Fairy School friends get together to help Olivia in any way possible and she needs it.

Another Delightful tale in the collection.  Fun to read and imagine.

Website:

N/A

How to Be A Flower Fairy by Frederick Warne

 

Title: How to be a Flower Fairy
Series: Flower Fairy Friends
Author: Frederick Warne
Genre: Children’s Book , Activity Set
Publisher: Penguin Books                                              
Received: Book swapping site
Release Date: April 2005
Pages:18
Rating:


What is it About?
It is a mini activity book w/ set of wings and many other things on how to be a flower fairy.


My Thoughts:

In many ways this reminds me of a mini version of the Fairyopolis books that came out with the pop up, lift the tabs and pixie dust.  References fairies and there nature.   This book is like that but smaller and has a tiny pair of wings for a youngin’

There are little poems about the fairies that are based on the illustrations of Cicely Mary Barker and there are notes and cute lite popups to make a girl giggle with glee.

Although I got the book through a swap it was missing some things like how to make invisible ink which I thought sounded cool!  Very cute book  and wings that would make a little girl feel like a flower fairy.


How to be a Flower Fairy (reissue) (Flower Fairies)

Faery Friday!! Review - Prilla And The Trouble With Clumsies

 Title: Prilla and the Trouble with Clumsies
Series: Graphic Novel #1
Author(s): Stefan Petrucha
Genre: Children’s, Graphic Novel
Publisher: Papercutz                                    
Received: Read in a B&N
Release Date:     March 30, 2010
Finished: August 13, 2010
Pages: 80
Challenges: None
Rating: 

 

 






My Thoughts: This is the first in a series of graphic novels featuring 4 tales about the Disney fairies, started in book by Gail Carson Levine.

If you have not seen my other reviews on Disney fairies books, then let me just simply put it: I love them. I pretty much enjoyed all the stories I have read on them, and the movies. The tales in this book are short and sweet. The art is wonderful. These are a great addition to the fairy franchise.

About the Author: Stefan Petrucha is the author of many of the Nancy Drew graphic novels and a few teen books. Visit him at his website, http://www.petrucha.com.

 

Friday Fairy Book Review - The Great Fairy Race

Title: The Great Fairy Race
Series: Step Into Reading
Author(s): Tennant Redbank
Genre:  Young Readers
Publisher: RH/Disney
Received:  Received from Paperbackswap, to be given away on a swap site
Release Date: April 8, 2008
Finished: March 2010
Pages: 48
Challenges: None
Rating:

My Thoughts: The Disney Fairies are ready to race. The only rule is they can't use their wings or legs. Beck rides her friend Squirrel, Fawn on her frog, Rani flies on Brother Dove, Fira takes a hot air balloon, Silvermist surfs on a wave, Tinker Bell tinkered and made her own car, Bess rides a cart with a mouse driving and Lily ... well Lily picked a snail, so she was not the fastest.  But so many things can happen in a race; who do you think will win?

This is one of the Step Into Reading books, which has levels for the ages of young readers. They're still as entertaining as the chapter books--which would be too much for certain young readers alone, but will be ready for them one day. I love that they tried to fit as many Disney fairies as possible into the book. The more the merrier! Although small, the book keeps true to the characters and story in the chapter books. 

About the Author: Tennant Redbank is a published author of many books, including a couple of Disney Fairy books, Enchanted books and Pirates of the Caribbean.


 

Tink, North Of Neverland by Kiki Thorpe

Title: Tink, North of Neverland
Series: Disney's Fairies
Author(s): Kiki Thorpe
Genre: Children's Chapter Book
Publisher: A Stepping Stone Book
Release Date: August 14, 2007
Finished: January 2010
Pages: 112
Challenges: None
Rating:












My Thoughts: Here is the second Disney Fairies chapter book about Tinkerbell. In this one, Tink is hanging out with fellow fairy Terrance. Another fairy finds a unique treasure in Neverland, a compass. Tink decides to fix it. and as Terrance helps the best way he knows how, he ends up ruining other things in Tink's room. Tink gets so mad she tells Terrance to leave her alone. Terrance takes this to heart and stays away from her. Tink, realizing that she was too hard on Terrance, wants to find the perfect present to say she is sorry. Adventure, here comes Tink!

I thought this one was cute. I especially like the way fairies say they are sorry. Only clumsies (humans) say the actual words, "I am sorry." Fairies say, "I'd fly backwards if I could.". Most of the Disney Fairies books have a lesson they teach, but I am not quite sure what this one was.

About the Author: Kiki Thorpe has written almost 100 children's books. Most of them are Disney characters or Nickolodean, like Dora the Explorer.

Review - Lily Pesky Plant by Kristen Larsen

Title: Lily's Pesky Plant
Series:: Disney Fairies
Author(s):: Kristen Larsen
Genre:: Children's Chapter Book
Summary: Lily the Garden fairy finds an unknown seed that turns into a plant and causes trouble for all of Pixie Hollow
Finished: 03/16/09
Pages: 110
Challenges: none
Rating:









My Thoughts: After reading other fairy books, this one is a delight. There is such originality in the way these Disney fairy books are written. Sure, you still have some typical characters like other fairy books, but many of the characters in these aren't so typical. They have more depth. Like the "mean" fairy Vidia, who really isn't that mean all the time. And Disney fairies aren't that clumsy. They do get into trouble, but that is the fun of these books. For example, in this one Lily, a garden fairy, finds a seed that she does not recognize. The plant grows to look ugly, smell ugly, and everything about it seems bad. But Lily still cares for the plant and knows that it is happy. This story is an example of how you can find true beauty in everything.

About the Author: Kristen Larsen is the writer of many children books including some Dora the Explorer and Lizzie McGuire books.

Shannon's Review - Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand by Gail Carson Levine

This is left over from the read A thon. I just went to sleep after I read. I was too tired to write.
















Summary: Sequel to the book Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg. In the first book Rani had promised a mermaid, Soop, that for her comb she would give her a magic wand. The book starts that Soop is angry because she never received the wand Rani had promised. Soop feels Rani lied and send her wrath to Fairy Haven by flooding it until she gets the wand she wants.





My Thoughts: I am sort of upset that I didn't like this adventure. It's just if you have read my review of Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg you would know why I like the Disney Fairies. They just seem comfortable with themselves. In this book it was all about the fairies having magic wand madness that made them want to wish for what they wanted. Of course things go bad when they get what they want. It is a story that gets told a lot. Yes, Yes, be careful what you wish for. I know this story very well. I guess I am disappointed because I don't think the fairies needed this story. Couldn't the wand have done something else besides grant wishes. And then again poor Rani has yet another accident. The first book she cuts off her wings. This book she gets turned into a bat and the bat has it's own essence. It is esscentually it's it own person or own bat with Rani stuck inside. Neither one wants to not exist. They work it out eventually sort of... I am thinking there is going to be a whole book about that.


About the Author: Gail Carson Levine is known for writing retelling fairy tales, especially her book Ella Enchanted, which was made into a movie. (The movie doesn’t do it justice, read the book). She has also written a book on writing fiction called Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly.

Read A Thon Stats:
Title of book(s) read since last update: 1
Number of books read since you started:7
Pages read since last update:191
Running total of pages read since you started:831
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 3hr
Running total of time spent reading since you started:8hr 45min

Shannon's Review - Dulcie's Taste of Magic by Gail Herman

Summary : Dulcie the Baking fairy is always in a rush to get things done now, now, now! After a baking incident the queen thinks she needs a vacation.






My Thoughts: I liked Dulcie the baking fairy. I have some similar traits to my personalities as her. I did not how ever like the new fairy Ginger but you aren't suppose to. She almost seem meaner then Vidia. I am not sure what lesson this one was suppose to teach because it wasn't the usually take you and time and smell the roses type lesson. At least it didn't seem like it was. I liked the little adventure that Dulcie had to go on to get her kitchen back though.


About the Author: Gail Herman has written many children book including some early readers. She lives in Newton, MA

Read A Thon Stats:
Title of book(s) read since last update: 1
Number of books read since you started:5
Pages read since last update:113
Running total of pages read since you started:608
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 1 hr
Running total of time spent reading since you started:5hr 45min

If you would like to win a free copy of this book come back on Friday for Refer A Book Friday!

Shannon's Review - Silvermist and the Ladybug Curse by Gail Herman

Summary: Silvermist finds the bad luck white lady bug. Every fairy thinks she is cursed. She tried her best to prove she is not but even she has her doubts.





My Thoughts: The water talent fairy Silvermist thinks she is cursed by the white lady bug she finds in a game. Vidia is happy to keep spreading the rumor that she is cursed for good. Silvermist tries to show her good side and keep a stiff upper lip. This is book is a lesson of perpective. If you put your mind on the bad, then bad happens. Or if you put your mind on the good, then good happens. What happens to Silvermist and others around her doesn't matter if it is good or bad. It just the fact it could happen to anyone. I thought this story was only okay. Vidia was very annoying in this book. I know she is the mean fairy but boy can she be mean. I am not sure the character Silvermist was as detailed as other fairies have been in other books.

About the Author: Gail Herman has written many children book including some early readers. She lives in Newton, MA


Read A Thon Stats
Title of book(s) read since last update: 1
Number of books read since you started:1
Pages read since last update:117
Running total of pages read since you started:117
Amount of time spent reading since last update:1 hr
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 1 hr

If you would like to win a free copy of this book come back on Friday for Refer A Book Friday!

Shannon's Review - Rani and the Mermaid Lagoon

Summary: Rani, a water talent faerie, gave up her wings on a quest to save Mother Dove. Now she deals with the consequences of being different from the other faeries. She searches for herself and finds her strengths in the land of Neverland.

My Thoughts: I think we have all had our own times where felt left out or just plain useless. Rani goes on an adventure to find where she fits into the world of the faeries. She wants to feel she can make a difference in Pixie Hollow, but, because she is different from the others, now they only see her differences. In some ways they see her as incapable of using her talent as she always has. Rain comes to understand that her talent is just fine, and she learns to be creative along the way. So on the outside she maybe different from the other faeries, but on the inside she is a stronger faerie.

About the Author: Lisa Papademetriou has written more than 30 children's novels. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and their dog. To find out more about her go to Lisa Papa.com

If you would like to win a free copy of this book come back on Friday for Refer A Book Friday!

Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg by Gail Carson Levine

Summary: The inside cover tells it best:

Prilla, the newest fairy to arrive in Never Land, is so odd that Never Land itself isn’t certain whether to let her into Fairy Haven. Prilla shakes hands when she meets other fairies, and she says “Pleased to meet you,” instead of “Fly with you.” What’s more, she calls Tinker Bell Miss Bell. Altogether, she acts more like a Clumsy than a self-respecting Never fairy should. To make matters worse, Prilla doesn’t know what her talent is—or if she has a talent at all. Mother Dove, the wisest creature in Never Land, thinks Prilla has a talent, but even she isn’t certain. A diabolical hurricane, a selfish fairy, Captain Hook, snobby mermaids, a fierce golden hawk, and the evil dragon Kyto combine in a tantalizing elixir that test Mother Dove’s wisdom, Tink’s courage, and Prilla’s mettle. Even Clumsy children on the mainland—even readers, wherever they may be—play a crucial role in deciding Never Land’s fate.

My Thoughts: I realized part of why I like the Disney Fairies better than the Disney Princesses: Disney Fairies have everything they need and are happy. Disney Princesses get everything they want. I just think I would rather be the Fairies than the Princesses. Disney Fairies are happy with the way things are, especially happy with themselves. Disney Princesses… Sure they are happy because they get what they want. But are they happy with themselves, or just with the things they have?

This book starts the series of Disney Fairy chapter books, and who better to write it than Gail Carson Levine? The first thing I love about this book is the artwork. Being an artist myself my eyes always go to that first; it’s just how I am. There are drawings of fairies, mermaids and other creatures throughout the book, and they are beautiful. I love the way it is written. Fairy Dust is probably written for more of a younger audience than other books Mrs. Levine has written, but it is still a wonderful fairy tale. Mrs. Levine also wrote a sequel called Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand that I will be reviewing that one later this year, hopefully. 5 Stars

About the author: Gail Carson Levine is known for writing retelling fairy tales, especially her book Ella Enchanted, which was made into a movie. (The movie doesn’t do it justice, read the book). She has also written a book on writing fiction called Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly.

Vidia And The Fairy Crown by Laura Driscoll

Summary: Vidia is accused of taking the Queen crown. Prilla and Vidia go on a search to find it.

My Thoughts: There is something interesting about a fairy with attitude. Vidia is not one of the nicest fairies but she is still interesting. In fact she seems to make an appearance in every book. Also, Vidia’s conflict with the Queen sort of humorous. This was a good mini quest. 4 Stars

About the author: Laura Driscoll has written quite a few Dora the Explorer books. She also wrote one other Disney Fairy chapter book called Fawn and the Mysterious Trickster.

Prilla and the Butterfly Lie by Kitty Richards

Fourth Book read for Read - a - thon!!! This is probably the last book.
Pages: 113
Total Number of Page Read : 839

Summary: Prilla learns her lesson after telling a lie.

My Thoughts: This one was cute. I Prilla is she a fairy with the talent of blinking to the clumsies (humans) mainland and playing with child. This talent keeps the fairies alive because it keeps the belief of fairies alive. I wish there was a little more of her using her talent because I think it cute when she plays with the kids. It had a pretty good lesson at the end too. 3.5 Stars

About the Author: Kitty Richards has only written one other book and it is a Spongebob Squarepants book. Other then that I can’t find anything on her.

The Trouble With Tink by Kiki Thorpe

Third book Read for Read- A-Thon! And I forgot this disney fairy books are also for the Young Readers Challenge at Becky's.

Pages:109
Total Pages Read : 726

Summary: Tinker Bell loses something, rumors start that she lost her talent to fix pot and pans.

My Thoughts: I like this one it was as good as the last Disney Fairy book I read, A Masterpiece for Bess, but it was nice. It was nice to see what happen with her an Peter Pan in this one although it the is no continuity to other Peter Pan stories by Disney, like Peter and the Starcatchers. There was no real lesson in this one and the other if fact I don’t like the fact that it was okay for Tinker Bell to not ask for help and keep everything to herself that didn’t seem right. 3 Stars

About the Author: Kiki Thorpe has written many books some separate novels, Disney books and a lot of Bear in the Big Blue House books. Unfortunately she does not have a website but I can just by looking at the google search people have been looking for her biography. She has written one other Disney Fairy book call Tink, North of NeverLand. Disney Fairies, Fantasy, Kiki Thorpe, Read-A-Thon, Series, Young Reader Challenge

A Masterpiece for Bess by Laura Bergen

1st Book Done for the Read-A-Thon!!

Summary: Bess an artist fairy who paints a portrait of Tinker Bell and soon all the other fairies want a portrait to call there own.

My Thoughts: Very cute. I thought this really captured the artist in me. I don’t know if I would say Bess is my favorite fairy thou but I see a lot of myself in her she’s messy, and likes to paint when wants to. I read this fairly quickly it is somewhere in the mid range for a chapter book not too easy and not to hard but definitely an enjoyable story. 4.5 stars

About the author: I couldn’t find to much on Laura Bergen. She has written some Dora’s The Explorer books and more Disney books. This is the only Disney fairy book she has done so far. I give her an A+.