Fairy Mom and Me

A girl (and future fairy) named Ella Brook narrates Kinsella’s amusingly chaotic chapter book, which highlights a few of the magical spells that cause trouble for Ella’s family; her mother can transform into a fairy but is “not very good at magic.” Using the latest in fairy technology (aka a digital Computawand), Ella’s mother summons a cow in an attempt to replace spilled milk, turns cleaning supplies sentient in a sequence with echoes of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and gives herself green skin and giant muscles while trying to cure a case of the flu, among other disasters. Messages about the virtues of patience and not taking shortcuts are handled with a light touch—most readers will be content to laugh over the fairy magic hijinks. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 7–10. [em]Author’s agent: Kimberly Witherspoon, Inkwell Management. Illustrator’s agency: Bright Group. (Jan.) [/em]