The Fairy Chronicles - Marigold and the Feather of Hope, the Journey Begins

It is time to introduce you to the Fairy Team: Marigold, Dragonfly, Thistle and Firefly. Perhaps it is possible that they are the ones that magically fixed the lamp you thought was once broken, or perhaps that dragonfly you saw buzzing around yesterday was actually a fairy in disguise. In this magical fairy-filled world, anything from a young girl's imagination materializes in the magic of The Fairy Chronicles' first book of the series, Marigold and the Feather of Hope, the Journey Begins.

Young Beth Parish is starting her summer off in the most boring way possible - two weeks with her oddly strange aunt. As a nine year old, there is nothing else worse in the world than having to spend a half month with someone that is far from ordinary. However, no sooner than a can of root beer later, Beth learns that not only is her aunt a fairy, but she is too - a Marigold fairy, to be precise! It is at this instant that the young (and old) reader is pulled into the magical fairy world of writer and creator J.H. Sweet.

There are more than just fairies in this magical world. Garden gnomes, brownies and even nasty gremlins could be lurking around any house and garden on the block. Never fear, the fairies rescue the day when they defeat the nasty little gremlins wreaking havoc upon Mr. Forrester, just in time for the brownies to recover the Feather of Hope. This magical team effort is rounded out by the help of Beth's dachshund - the one creature gremlins are afraid of!

The Fairy Chronicles are more than just a magical ride through a mythical world, but also teach valuable life lessons while entertaining the senses. Learning to appreciate nature and the colors of the natural world is a great lesson to be learned in the midst of "Climate Change" and other scary, bewildering thoughts of the future. "Leave only footprints" is an idealistic thought for how all creatures (fairies and non-fairies) should treat the Earth. Also, while awaiting the rescue of the Feather of Hope, we see that Mr. Forrester believes that there are "two important things to consider" in our search for the meaning of life. "How we treat other people, and what we teach to children," are actual lessons demonstrated in Marigold and the Feather of Hope, the Journey Begins.

Another beneficial lesson weaved into this magical book includes knowing the importance of community as we see the how the fairies work together to solve problems with each other to benefit each other. The reader learns alongside Marigold on becoming an educated fairy and how fairies value honesty and virtue. Between the magic and the lessons, this book is a wonderful choice for young, impressionable readers with wild and ambitious imaginations.

In addition to being a very easy read, geared towards children ages seven and up, with colorful and imaginative illustrations by Tara Larsen Chang, it makes an excellent bedtime book to be read a chapter or two at a time. Magically fun adventures are on the horizon for Marigold, her aunt, the Fairy Team and others from the Fairy Circle. You and your child will both enjoy the adventures yet to come to the lovable fairies in J.H. Sweet's magical fairy world!