A Midsummers Night's Dream

A Midsummer Night's Dream by Charles and Mary Lamb

illustrated by Brian Froud
      

"All These Adventures Were Visions Which They Saw In Their Sleep"
  

Long ago in Athens there was a night where confusion reigned, love was made and magic was played. The fair Hermia was in love with Lysander, and he with her. Her dearest friend Helena was in love with Demetrius, but alas Demetrius was in love with Hermia and had her father's consent to marry. When Hermia and Lysander made to run away they were followed by Demetrius, who was followed by Helena. Here enter that great trickster Puck and a night of mischief begins.

A Midsummer Night's Dream, the well known Shakespearean play is here rewritten into a story worded plain enough but littered with quotes direct form the original script. It is within these pages we find the famous king and queen of the Fairies, Oberon and Titania, here again immortalised within this dreamy new version. A story that blends ancient words with striking new images as soft and whimsical as the story itself, bringing new appreciation to a timeless tale.

(illustrator) Brian Froud - World Of Froud

On sale: 1972
ISBN: 9780851663333
Recommended age: 12+
In a word: Dream
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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Are All The Giants Dead?

Are All The Giants Dead? by Mary Norton

illustrated by Brian Froud
 

"There's No Giant Living!"
 

James, while sleeping safely in his bed, is awoken my Mildred, a magical woman, and taken on an adventure into a fairy-tale land. At a dream like castle James befriends a princess who is burdened by great loneliness and a christening curse. A bad fairy had cursed the princess and it was now her fate to marry a toad. Understandably upset by the thought of a toad as a husband, the princess runs away and seeks help in breaking her curse. This is when she finds James who decides to help her. But what has all this to do with giants?

Are All The Giants Dead? James is about to discover the answer to this question as he goes against good advice and involves himself in the lives of these fairy-tale characters. In particular, his decision to aid the princess Dulcibel in her toad marrying curse soon brings about a change in this magical land and the town of Much-Belungun-under-Bluff. Despite James' fondness for science fiction, this is a story bursting with fairy-tale characters and references. Accompanied by black and white Froud images, this story is a charming fairy-tale all its own.

(illustrator) Brian Froud - World Of Froud

On sale: 15 April 1997
ISBN: 9780152015237
Recommended age: 12+
In a word: James
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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My First Book Of Fairy Verse

My First Book Of Fairy Verse by Shirley Barber
 

Carry A Verse Wherever You Go!

Within these pages fairies are found, in ponds and forests, markets and mountains.
A magical place where rhyming abounds, in seas and gardens and flowing fountains.
An assortment of authors here come together, to share their great love of magical beings.
This magical book is made all the better, through poetic sounds and pretty seeings.

My First Book Of Fairy Verse, a cute board book of great rhyming example.
Looking just like a sweet little purse, it comes complete with pink carry handle.
With rhymes to treasure day and night, filled with fairies, mermaids and a little elfman.
A book that will bring great delight, a book not just for girls but all children.

Shirley Barber Webpage

On sale: 01 May 2002
Price (AU): $12.95
ISBN: 9781865036434
Recommended age: 3+
In a word: Fairy
Re-read it: possibly
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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The Faeries Of Spring Cottage

The Faeries Of Sping Cottage by Terri Windling

art by Wendy Froud
   

With A Story In His Heart And Courage In His Hands!

Sneezle is a tree root faerie living in the Old Oak Wood, but through a series of events he soon finds himself facing a fearful giant, a human girl named Rowan. Far from his safe home of the wood, Sneelze finds he is trapped in Spring Cottage, a human dwelling, with no way to return home to his wood.

Sneezle soon finds out that Spring Cottage is full of faeries, but unlike any Sneezle has ever meet before, usual knights serving a King and Queen, brownies turning into boggarts, rats with swords, and dolls come to life. Sneezle's only chance of returning home will depend on courage, new friendships and a story or two.

The Faeries Of Spring Cottage are a strange and dangerous group who have lost their way and allowed their fear to change them, transforming them into angry and mean faeries. But not all the faeries have lost their way and with Sneezle's help they will find peace once again. A story that will delight both young and old and will remind us that it's never too late to believe in faeries.

Terri Windling Webpage

Wendy Froud - World Of Froud

On sale: 01 May 2003
Price (AU): $39.99
ISBN: 9780743202350
Recommended age: 6+
In a word: Sneezle
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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