The Fairy Ball

The Fairy Ball
Stephen J. Brooks
Purple Sky Publishing
ISBN: 0-9769017-4-9
Children’s Picture Book
Reviewed by Tanya Boudreau

Follow the lively fairies. Wherever they go, a path of tiny beaded colors continues on. These little beads are like candy confetti sprinkled on birthday cakes. The fairies are inviting Madelyn to the nighttime fairy ball. The ball is taking place deep in the woods, nearby Madelyn’s house. Wearing a white nightgown, and slipping out of her bedroom in bare feet, she arrives at the fairy ball. The guest of the evening is the princess of the fairies. Madelyn dances with the fairies, who are wearing fanciful little dresses. They dance to fairy singing. However, like the clock striking midnight in Cinderella, the sunrise brings the ball to an end for Madelyn and the fairies.
The colors are so vivid in this book; it’s as if a dazzlingly iced birthday cake has exploded onto the pages. Although the colors are bustling, the feeling is nicely serene. The illustrator has faint edges on some of her pictures, and this makes for a dreamy, wonderful experience. The crayon green grass and some of the purple and pink flower petals have this dreamy appearance too. The pages are lustrous and shiny, and with the light coming from the stars, the fireflies, and the fairies themselves, the pages are quite spectacular.
Stephen J. Brooks, the author of several children’s books, and Denise Seah, who teaches art, have created a fine world for children to visit. Everyone has big smiles and nature abounds. At the fairy ball, the decorations are the flowers in the trees, and the dance floor is petals. Each page has four lines of text; text that rhymes. Children will respond as Madelyn is welcomed by the fairies- for this one memorable night.