Happy Fae Friday! I’m doing things a little differently for this post, and instead of having a faery of the week, I’m going to channel my inner children’s librarian and review a beautiful picture book by Phoebe Wahl. I stumbled upon Backyard Fairies when I was looking for books to suit my upcoming story time all about (you guessed it) faeries! I immediately fell in love and wanted to share it with you in case you have a little one in your life you wish to treat to a story. (It counts if the little one is your own inner child.)
This book follows a little girl who believes with all her heart that faeries are all around her: living in magical, natural homes within her woods, playing music and flying through the trees, and even hiding inside her own house. She is constantly on a quest to catch a glimpse of one, and every page shows a magical creature hiding just out of (and sometimes in) plain sight.
First and foremost, the thing I love most about this book is the illustrations. I mean, just look at this beautiful scene:
There are so many distinct types of Fae represented, and they’re each celebrating in their own way during the festivity. There’s dancing, singing, kissing, drinking; you name it. They are portrayed as wild and free, just as faeries should be. They are also shown as living entirely separate lives from us, and I think that’s something important we need to learn. These are not beings who are waiting for us to notice them. They are not clamoring for our attention so their existence can be validated. They live and perish, love and feud, frolic and toil; all of this without our help or knowledge. They only interact with us when they choose to.
Which brings me to my next favorite point about this book. They do choose to play with the little girl in the story, even if she can’t see it at the time. They can be mischievous with their pranks, such as when they braid the hair of the protagonist’s dog when its sleeping. But they can also show their sweet side through actions like making the flower crown for the girl after she is sad for missing their revelries earlier in the night.
And why do they create such a sweet thing for the little girl? Because they like her. They know she believes in them and searches for them. And most importantly, they know she leaves them gifts:
The surest way to a faery’s heart is to show how much you appreciate them. And how do you show your gratitude and build a strong relationship with these magical creatures? Leave them gifts. Oh, how they looove gifts. Which leads me to this week’s activity:
Activity
Start building your own relationship with the Fae. They are immensely powerful beings and can be very useful in spell work that needs some extra oomph. You can’t just ask them for something the moment you need it; they don’t work that way. That would be like asking a stranger on the street to help you move. The only help they’ll offer you is telling you where you can shove it.
So I recommend you make a connection with them now by leaving them presents. Sweet treats are the best way to go, and they are very fond of fresh berries, milk, and honey. My only suggestion is that you don’t leave anything that can poison local wildlife (e.g., chocolate). You can make these offerings as frequently as you want, and I make mine every full moon, new moon, and Sabbat. Leave these gifts anywhere you feel faeries may gather: in a hollowed-out tree stump in a forest, behind a potted plant in your apartment, or even in your own backyard. (See how I connected that back to the book title?)
Bonus Activity
Check out more books by Phoebe Wahl. She truly is amazing.
- Little Witch Hazel: A Year in the Forest (my personal favorite)
- The Blue House
- Sonya’s Chickens
Reference
Wahl, P. (2018). Backyard fairies. Alfred A. Knopf.