Fairies-they're not all sugar plums

When I saw this article by novelist A.S. Byatt in the Guardian, the title made me think there could be a connection to The Spiderwick Chronicles (and it's 2008 film) in which fairies are not sweet little pixies, but mischievous--if not malicious--creatures. (Fans of the TV show Torchwood will remember the Small Worlds episode from the first series which also deals with the topic--probably the most disturbing episode of the lot, IMHO!) The article rambles a bit, including as it does a description of an exhibit currently on display in London, which I do not have any hope of seeing, and moving beyond its original premise of exploring the dark underworld of fairies and other fantastic beings. (In brief, the crux of the article is: fairies--not just for kids!) But there are many references to Peter Pan, The Wind in the Willows, and other classics of Children's Literature which grew out of an Edwardian reverence for childhood and more than a little distrust of a woman's civilizing hand. The article also flirted with ideas I've previously come across in the excellent Inventing Wonderland, by Jackie Wullschlager, all about the birth of fantasy in Children's Literature.

(BTW, the image above is called The Entomologist's Dream, by Edmund Dulac, one of the artists on display in the xhibit mentioned in the Byatt piece. Looks more like a nightmare than a dream, and succinctly represents the chaos associated with fairies.)

Look who else is headed for the screen

I came across this news item while on-line trying to hunt down a Rainbow Magic Annual for my daughter. Hit Entertainment, license holders for the distribution of Thomas the Tank Engine, Pingu, and the Wiggles--just a few stars in a constellation of children's popular characters--plans to turn the popular Rainbow Magic series of books into a TV show. My daughter will be thrilled. Unlike My Friend Rabbit, I think the Rainbow Fairies (and the Weather Fairies, and the Jewel Fairies, and all the rest of them) are perfect for the jump to the small screen. The stories are slight, the characters stock, and the sugar coating heavy. Now, that may sound like a criticism, but it's not. The Rainbow Magic series is not reaching for any great literary heights, just for the hearts and minds of little girls. And the authors (there are four of them) have succeeded--spectacularly! The open ended format of an animated series will allow for plenty of pretty colors, fairy dust, and fairy fashion without having to worry too much about plot. Again--this is not a criticism! I firmly believe that there is a place for light, escapist fiction--even for the Easy Chapter set. Who wants capital 'L' Literature all the time? While I don't get much enjoyment out of reading the Rainbow Magic books to my daughter (and it pained me that she chose Evie the Mist Fairy over The Wizard of Oz when I asked what chapter book she wanted to read tonight) I know that she enjoys them, and that one day she will enjoy reading them to herself. And reading, after all, is the ultimate goal.