Flossie McFluff by Eoin O'Brien and Audrey Dowling

In a deep leafy wood, by a slow-moving stream,
Where butterflies flutter through golden sunbeams,
Lives a beautiful fairy called Flossie McFluff.
She’s tiny and shiny, but Flossie is tough.


She has magical powers; she knows magic words;
And she cares for the trees and the bees and the birds.
Wee Flossie lives high in an ancient oak tree,
And lives for adventure, as we shall soon see …

Three stories in rhyme about a little fairy who looks after the forest.

In the first tale, she gives some litter louts a scare, then she helps a lonely banshee find some friends, and finally helps her leprechaun friend Paddy Potts find his missing gold.

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Eoin and Audrey are on to a winner here. Flossie is cute, the illustrations are great and the stories are perfect, just the right length and with a lesson that doesn't slap you in the face.

I spent a long time looking at some of the details in the illustrations, like Bridget's belt and the carvings around Flossie's window. Those aren't things that anyone would notice if they were missing, but they really enhance the scene by being there. Even the spread where Flossie hurriedly pulls on a sock while she talks to her friend; it's a tiny thing that really adds to the atmosphere. I love it.

The writing is brilliant too. It's hard to get this kind of rhythm right, and for the most part it's perfect. There's one or two spots where the rhythm is a bit forced, but the child isn't going to notice it; it's just for us grammar pedants. (We grammar pedants? Oh dear.)

I really enjoyed this and I can't wait for more adventures with Flossie.

 

I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.