The Faerie's Gift by Tanya Robyn Batt, illustrated by Nicoletta CeccoliOn a seemingly ordinary day, a poor woodcutter rescues a faerie from a preying hawk. In return for saving his life, the faerie gives the woodcutter a gift of one wish. As the woodcutter dreams of things he's always desired, he remembers his family back at home and decides that they must all decide on what the wish will be. The woodcutter is more confused than ever when his wife wants him to wish for the child they've never been able to have, his blind mother wants him to wish for her to regain her eyesight, and his father wants him to wish for gold. How can he make his entire family happy with just one wish?
This is the type of enchanting story that many children will love. They will especially enjoy hearing the story read aloud to them. But what steals the show in this book are Nicoletta Ceccoli's breathtaking illustrations. I became a fan of Ceccoli when I saw her magical work with The Girl in the Castle Inside the Museum by Kate Bernheimer, a book which I think is the most beautifully illustrated book EVER.
Image courtesy Random House Children's Books
In The Faerie's Gift, Ceccoli's illustrations are three dimensional, and in many cases, the reader is looking at the pictures in the book from a bird's eye view. Combine this with a soft palette, and you're instantly taken into another time, a magical dream world where faeries exist and have the ability to grant wishes to good people. Highly recommended.
Image courtesy Barefoot BooksAnd if you're as entranced with Ceccoli as I am, check out the artwork she shared with Jules and Eisha featured at at Seven Imp back in April. I just want to decorate my entire house with her artwork.
More information:
- Reading level: Ages 4-8
- Hardcover: 32 pages
- Publisher: Barefoot Books (February 1, 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1841489980
- ISBN-13: 978-1841489988
- Source of book: Review copy from publisher
