Magic Mess!

This breezy snippet of a story introduces the Airy Fairy series, centering on a student at a school for orphaned fairies, located in a tree house high up in an old oak. As the tale opens, the other young fairies proudly show off the spring flowers they have grown. But in Airy Fairy's pot are bloomless sprouts, which headmistress Fairy Gropplethorpe identifies as spring onions. The one responsible for the gardening mishap is Airy Fairy's nemesis, sneaky Scary Fairy, who always gets everything right and constantly tries to get Airy Fairy in trouble. In the simple plot, the fairies attempt three tasks, which they can use magic to complete. Miss Stickler directs them to clean up their bedrooms, paint the walls of their rooms and "magic up" a present for Fairy Gropplethorpe's birthday. Even though Scary Fairy sabotages Airy Fairy's spells, the good little fairy lands on top in kid-pleasing fashion. The narrative's brevity and Murfin's comically hyperbolic drawings make this a good choice for reluctant readers. Youngsters will likely be sufficiently drawn to this bumbling, likable protagonist to reach for her other misadventures: Magic Mischief! (0-7641-3186-9), Magic Mix-Up! (0-7641-3189-3) and Magic Muddle! (0-7641-3187-7)¸ being published simultaneously. Ages 7-10. (July)