The Green Fairy
Author: Alejandro Davila
Publisher: Duckling Publishing
Isbn: 9780473437497
RRP $29.99
Format: hardback
Date of Publication: August 2018
Ages: 5-8 years
Reviewer: Nova Gibson
Job: Library Manager
School: Massey Primary School
Recommended
With the perceived ‘threat’ of devices replacing real books, Conical Interactive Studios has produced a book that links to augmented reality using a free downloaded app. This app shows a fairy that reads the story aloud as the reader points the device at the page. The app has other features, all enhancing the reading experience for the reader and perhaps engaging a reluctant reader.
The story itself is about a group of fairies threatened by the evil fairy catchers, so they have to leave the forest and find a new home. They find themselves in the city where the yellow fairies hide themselves in street lights for perfect camouflage. But when the green fairy tries to hide in an unoccupied streetlight, the other fairies get angry and kick her out saying she’s giving them away.
The story is about finding your place in the world, finding a purpose and with a helpful tip from a red fairy, the green fairy finds her new home and purpose in a green traffic light.
The book is in landscape format with a full-page-illustration on the left and text on the right of each double-page spread.
Although this style may be a bit old-fashioned, it makes it easier to follow the fairy as she reads the story than if the words were bouncing all over the page. The font is lovely and enhances the ‘fantasy’ aspect of the story.