Generic story about fairies with beautiful watercolour paintings, translated from the German. ( )

a very descripted book about seasons changing and fairies. ( )

Originally published in German as Komm mit ins Elfenland (literally, "Come Along to Fairy-Land"), this contemporary picture-book reminds me quite a bit of the work of Sibylle von Olfers, an early twentieth-century German children's author, who - like Daniel Drescher - also celebrated the beauty of Nature, and the passing of the seasons, in stories that incorporate magical little beings. I've been reading von Olfers recently, so the comparison fairly leapt to mind, when perusing In the Land of Fairies.

Here we follow a group of woodland fairies through the seasons, from the early Spring, when they bring the green to the forest, through dark winter days, when the Robin's song rings out over the snow-covered land. The text, in a sort of loose verse, is minimal. It is the art, with its gossamer-winged fairies, that constitutes the true appeal of this lovely little book. I think my favorite spreads were the initial one, with its butterfly-winged Spring fairies, and the final one, with a tiny red-capped fairy and robin, together in the snow. I don't know that the narrative was all the impressive, but I enjoyed the art enough that I will probably search out more work by Daniela Drescher! ( )

Lovely illustration of Faerie similar in art style to Jane Dyer's "Child of Faerie, Child of Earth." A sweet little poem of about four lines per page. The only thing that prevents me giving it five-stars is that their was no effort to find a typeface that enhanced the art. ( )