About Me

My name is Genevieve Woods and in addition to being the mother of an adorable preschooler named Oscar and his adorable toddler brother Henry, I am the Children's Buyer at Spellbinder Books, a small independent bookstore in Bishop, California. I am often asked by customers for recommendations...and thus the idea for this blog was sparked.

Many sites recommending books for kids are created by librarians and non-profits. While these are great sites, they often recommend out-of-print books. This site is all about the great books that are available now! While I am not being paid for these recommendations, I would appreciate it if readers would purchase the books I recommend from local independent bookstores, or even B&N. Basically don't buy from the evil empire (A_A_O_), because if you do much of our literary knowledge will be lost.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Fairy & Princess Books

I just found out my friend's 4-year-old daughter, Mollie, has cancer.


With a situation so frightening, I tend to feel helpless, and worse, unable to help. But Mollie likes fairies and princesses, so the least I could do was send some books. This list includes the four books I sent Mollie, and some additional favorite fairy titles.

Princess Fairy Tales by Margaret Clark
In opening "The Classic Treasury of Princess Fairy Tales" one will find refuge in a quiet, sun-dappled forest where magic still can and does happen. Featuring eight of the best loved princess heroines of all time, from Cinderella to Sleeping Beauty, little girls will revel in the fantasy world the beautifully rich artwork creates and long for the stories to never end. (Click on the picture to link to Spellbinder's Website to see details.)


Flower Fairies Alphabet Colouring Book by Mary Cicely Barker
Mary Cicely Barker is the queen of the flower fairies. She has beautiful books of poetry and her illustrations are incredible. This colouring (British spelling) book introduces young children to the alphabet with the help of Barker's delightful Flower Fairies. From A to Z, there is a Flower Fairy to color in for each letter of the alphabet. Constructed of heavy paper suitable for crayons, marker, or paints. Line drawings. (Click on the picture to link to Spellbinder's Website to see details.)

Everything Princess!: My First Tiara & Gemstone Activity Book with Sticker and Other Jewelry by Alex Toys
The title really says it all, but the official description is: "This lavish kit is perfect for every little girl who dreams of being a princess Inside you'll find a pretty pink tiara, die-cut and visible through the front cover, 120 gemstone stickers, 5 large jewels, an adjustable ring, cuff bracelet, and best of all--a special pop-up vanity mirror So not only can girls decorate, then wear, their very own princess creations, but they can also check out their new princess looks in their very own mylar mirror Inside the full-color book are fun princess-themed activities on 40 card stock pages, including 8 punch-out pages to make a magic wand, a princess fan, a picture frame, and so much more." (Click on the picture to link to Spellbinder's Website to see details.)

Fairies: Clipboard Activity Pack with Sticker & Poster & Stencils & Note Pad & Activity Guide by DK Publishing
I have biases for and against certain publishers, and DK is one of my favorites. I love their graphics and the quality (paper and binding) of their books. While this fairy activity pack isn't quite as extensive as the princess one listed above, it's still quite nice, and it is less than half the price. (Click on the pictures to link to Spellbinder's Website to see details.)


Fairyopolis & How To Find Flower Fairies by Mary Cicely Barker
I know I said it before, but Mary Cicely Barker is the queen of flower fairies. Fairyopolis is supposed to be her long lost journal. It is very cool, though a little hard to read. How To find Flower Fairies is an incredible pop-up book, it's my favorite of the two. Robert Sabuda is coming out with a separate fairy pop-up book this summer, and I'm sure that will be wonderful as well. (Click on the picture to link to Spellbinder's Website to see details.)


Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg by Gail Carson Levine
This chapter book introduces young readers to the fairy community that Tinkerbell lives in when she is away from Peter Pan. There may be a TV series attached as well, I'm out of the TV loop. This is a Disney book and I have to admit that Disney is one of those publishers I am biased against. However, this book is not only beautiful, it is written by Gail Carson Levine, who received a Newbery Honor Award for Ella Enchanted. Disney or no Disney, Gail Carson Levine can write! This book is great. (Click on the picture to link to Spellbinder's Website to see details.)

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