Fairy Walk
by Gaia Cornwall; illus. by the author
Preschool, Primary    Candlewick    40 pp.
4/25    9781536230710    $17.99
e-book ed.  9781536242591    $17.99

Three children and one pup head off to the woods to search for fairies. It’s a misty day, and the casually diverse trio’s colorful rain gear, purple umbrella, and enthusiasm brighten the mood. The kids look in clusters of flowers, under a big rock, among mushrooms, and under a blanket of moss. They discover a dragon (orange salamander), a mushroom table for “a fairy feast,” and “Bugs!” But “no fairies at all!” The littlest one lies face down on the ground in frustration while the older two kick at the grass and shout at the sky. Cornwall’s spare, sensory-rich text honors a child’s perspective, and her digitally colored watercolor, pencil, and collage illustrations embrace the possibility of magic in the natural world. Delicate details and patterns in the soft pastel scenes give the setting depth and texture. What the explorers don’t notice (but their dog does) are the near-translucent fairies flitting around them, hidden in the forest flora. Things look more hopeful after a rest and a snack. The kids don’t see fairies, but they sense enchantment: “Hear them whisper in the trees…Shhh…Feel the ground! It hums. It thrums.” Once young viewers notice the well-camouflaged fairies, they will want to turn back to the beginning to examine the illustrations again (don’t forget the endpapers). This small-scale adventure celebrates nature and imagination.

From the May/June 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.