I had the pleasure of reviewing The Legend of the First Unicorn several months ago, and I was excited to discover another Scottish Tale would be published this spring. This new story is about a group of fairies and a girl named Rose who comes across them in the forest one Midsummer’s Day. True to fairy stories from the Celtic region, these fairies are charming, but they are also sneaky, leading Rose to spend more time with them than she initially intends. Beautiful, inclusive illustrations drew my eye immediately, and the story is equally graceful. Please see my full review below!
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Young Rose lives in the forest with her parents, where every day is a struggle to collect enough wood to sell so they can earn enough money to fill their bellies. On her way to town one Midsummer’s Day, Rose is distracted by the sound of music emanating from the inside of a nearby hill. To her surprise, the hill is filled with singing fairies of many colors, and she is immediately entranced by them. When Rose is invited to join the fairies’ Midsummer Party, she agrees to just two dances; but when she returns home, she finds that not everything is the same as she left it. This story is one of the Traditional Scottish Tales series; it introduces readers to the fairies found in Scottish stories and is accompanied by beautifully whimsical illustrations. Told in the manner of a traditional fairy tale, readers will recognize the familiar cause and effect structure of Rose’s experiences while engaging with fairies near her home. Direct, clear sentences guide readers from one moment to the next, making the book an excellent selection to read aloud. Within the text, song lyrics appear in styles and fonts that draw readers’ attention whether they can read independently or not, which adds a dynamic flavor to longer paragraphs. Watercolor illustrations immerse readers in Rose’s forested world, featuring the many hues of summer at the beginning of the story. As the backdrop shifts to autumnal colors, the images give readers information about the story before the text itself does. Young readers will love both the charming storytelling and the delightful visuals that come together within this story, especially as a wide range of genders and complexions are represented in both Rose’s family and the fairies themselves. Inclusive and beautifully designed, this is a highly recommended addition to library collections for young readers with an interest in both Scottish storytelling and fairies.
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