The Book of Fairies: Nature Spirits from Around the World

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

A wise mountain spirit teaches a Japanese stonecutter how to be happy
with his humble life. A young Irish lad learns he will someday be a
great king because he saved the life of a magic sparrow. An evil emperor
comes to grief because he tried to enslave the beautiful wife of a
powerful Chinese nature spirit. A sky fairy roams the land of the Ojibwa
searching for the perfect place to build her home. Two Himalayan ice
fairies ignore the advice of their elders and reap tragedy when they
attempt to live in the warmer land of the humans.

The stories in this collection of classic fairy tales focus on the
struggle between good and evil, between beautiful and ugly, between
wisdom and foolishness. Although the basic tales have originated in
folklore from around the world, Rose Williams’s exceptional
interpretations have polished each gem into a collection of uniform
brilliance. Supernatural sprites form the backbone of every tale, but
they appear in a variety of charming manifestations. Robin Barrett’s
pastel illustrations are equally splendid.

Because fairies were considered go-betweens for humans and the natural
world, a glossary of “fairy flora” is included to explain the
significance of certain plants that appear in both the text and
illustrations. This book should find a place of honor in any home
library. Highly recommended.