Children’s books – just the overall thought floods me with so many memories. Sitting propped up in bed, or on the library floor, with a book too big to fit in my lap, turning the pages and soaking in each beautifully illustrated page. A few still hold a special place in my heart.
Fairy Foals, the Journey of a Magical Garden, by Suzanah is sure to be such a book. And more. Written in journal entries, it takes us on the mystical journey through the garden Suzanah inherits from her grandmother. The story begins when she receives a small wooden box, thirty-five years after her grandmother’s death. Inside the box is a key to her grandmother’s old guest house and ten acres of gardens she so fondly remembers. She begins to make a life there, and eventually wanders out to the garden with her sketchbook.
While spending time there one morning, looking for something to sketch, she has a sense of being watched. When she returns to the garden it is with a more careful eye, and this time she discovers the magic. Captured in a spider’s web is a tiny brown horse, with wings! As she begins to take an even closer look, she realizes the garden is alive with these mystical creatures. The reader joins her in discovering the uniqueness of each tiny fairy foal – beautiful little creatures that play with butterflies, eat geranium leaves, bask in the sun. Each one is the size of a dandelion flower, constantly on the move and difficult to sketch. As the reader becomes acquainted with Little Brown, Fuzz, Fly, Snowflake, Dancer, Chaser, Pixie, and Sapphire, they also are given a glimpse of the beauty of nature itself – the intricacies of a butterfly’s wing, the art of nest-building, a star-filled night sky, dew drops on leaves that provide an afternoon drink, and leaves dancing in the wind.
The underlying story, of Little Brown’s difficulty keeping up with the other fairy foals, his perseverance and final triumph, will be an encouragement to small children who may struggle to keep up with older siblings or other children they spend time with. Nothing seems to come easily to Little Brown, the underdog / hero of the book, and isn’t it good to root for the underdog, then see him / her achieve what was thought impossible!
If the story was not enough, and it is, the illustrations are truly beautiful – a mixture of pencil drawings, watercolors, some taken right from nature and some from a wonderfully creative mind – they should not only hold a young child’s attention, but better yet they might send them out to the garden, sketchbook in hand, on their own search for fairy foals and the other wonders nature offers to those who will slow down just a bit, for a closer look.
Fairy Foals is a beautiful book suitable for children ages six – nine. I’m holding onto my copy of this for myself reading to my grandchildren, but Sourcebooks has been gracious enough to agree to send out a few copies to the 5 Minutes for Books readers. If you’d like to win, leave a comment. I’ll randomly draw three winners on Friday, August 1, and collect the addresses, then send them off to Sourcebooks, who will mail them directly to your front door.
For all the other open giveaways on our site, click the giveaway category link below.
Bev shares whatever’s on her heart at Scratchin’ the Surface, when she doesn’t have her nose in a book, or isn’t on the phone with someone in her family.
This is the first offering that we are submitting to Melanie/Chilihead’s Bloggy Giveaways carnival. It starts July 28 at 8:00am CST, so if you want to participate on your own blog (or just try to win lots of stuff), check out the guidelines HERE.
Yes, I said first. We have a humorous novel for adults coming up, and we’ll bless some booklover with one big bundle of new books.
Go Amie says
This book looks really charming!
Heidi says
I have the goal of reading to my son everyday. New books are always appreciated.
Michele says
This would be a great book for my nephew!
Nancy says
That looks like a really great book. Just the kind of book I would have slurped up as a child. My daughter is a little young for it now, but it would make a great present in a year and a half or so.
Lori says
This looks beautifu1! Count me in!
Beckie says
My daughter would LOVE this!
danandmarsh says
This would be a great read for my grandchildren!
Sara Breuninger says
This book sounds so beautiful. pick me pick me
Erin says
What a great giveaway – I would love to win this for my daughter! 🙂
Sheila Jacobson says
Lovely prize. Please enter my name. Thank you.
Genevieve says
My girls would love this book!
Paula H says
My daughter would love this.
Stacy says
Looks like a fun book! Thanks for the giveaway.
Stacy
Amy N. says
We are big readers here, and my daughters would love to add this to their shelf (or laps as it were) to read!
Thank you!
Marcia says
We love to read new books! My daughter isn’t even 2 yet and she always wants me to read to her.
learningmama at yahoo dot com
Shilo Beedy says
My daughter would enjoy reading such a neat book.
Soha Molina says
I’d love to win this for my daughter. She is SOOO into fairies right now.
Leslie S. says
My girls would love this!
Liz says
I’d love this.
fivewinks at cox dot net
Helene says
I would love to read this book to my children.
Sue says
This book looks beautiful!
Thanks,
Sue
Cassandra says
I’ve heard great things about this book–thanks!
Carol says
Hope to win!
kiy says
I would love to win this book. It looks beautiful and we are a house that is ALL about books! 🙂
Joan says
Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the review.
Ginny says
I think my daughter would really love this book!
Stephanie V. says
fingers crossed
Whitney says
Elementary school counselors LOVE books!
Mama Zen says
This looks fabulous!
Heidi says
I have four little girls who love storybooks! Thanks for the giveaway!
Kathleen says
This is a book my girl would love!
Karen says
Great selection, thanks!
Cheri D says
Our family loves books!! Please enter me!! Thanks!
Jen says
Great giveaway…I am an avid reader and my kids are following with the same reading excitement!
Shelly says
I love getting new books! Pick me please!
Jill Myrick says
Thank you so very much for offering this wonderful giveaway !
I would LOVE to win !!
Piseco says
Looks so beautiful! We’d love to win.
Stephanie says
I must have missed something…I am suddenly seeing this book everywhere. I hope I win, so I don’t have to go out & buy it!
Thanks!
Diana says
Love it! It looks amazing. Thanks!
Mandy says
I would love to have have this book for my classroom!
Kristen says
Looks like a great book! Thanks, Kristen
[email protected]
Cherie J says
Please enter me. Thank you!
Joy F says
I keep hearing good things about this book. Would love to have a chance to win!
Shay says
I would love to win this for my daughter.
Carol says
My daughter would love this beautiful book. She is forever building fairy houses in our yard. I’ll have to look for i at the library!
Amity says
My daughters would love this book!!
new mom says
even the front of the book is beautiful!
tonya says
My daughter would just love this book! Thanks so much for the entry 🙂 I hope we win so I can read it to her.
Chrysa says
Beautiful book. Thanks for the giveaway!
michelle b. says
please enter me in your contest