Fairies come alive in stories, songs, and poetry. Only Thumbelina will be familiar to most readers; there is an excerpt from Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens , but this title is different from the more familiar tale. The pieces, some of which feature fairies who are more crotchety than fey, have an old-fashioned air, and Hague's lush, highly detailed artwork enhances the feeling. The most beautiful spreads are the ones in color, but even the line drawings are so intricate they deserve more than one look.

Stories Within:

• Lock-out Time ("Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens" by J.M. Barrie) 
• Thumbelina 
• Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti 
• The Flower Babies (Robin and Puck tease a flower fairy baby) 
• Fairer-Than-A-Fairy 
• The Goodwife's Midnight Labors (a Scottish folktale) 
• The Brownie O'Ferne-Den (from Scotland) 
• The Fairies, a poem by Willam Allingham  (LOVE this poem)