Rainbow Magic: Selena the Sleepover Fairy

Rainbow Magic: Selena the Sleepover Fairy by Daisy Meadows (Orchard Books/Hachette)
PB RRP $9.99
ISBN: 9781408330739
Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

This Early Reader edition has been especially designed for younger fans of Rainbow Magic books, with an easy vocabulary and full colour, beautiful illustrations to encourage independent reading. The book has been divided into three story chapters.

Rachel and Kirsty, who are friends of the fairies, are going with their school to have a sleepover in the National Museum. On the way, their coach stops at a service station and the children stretch their legs. The two friends notice a cloud of purple fairy dust and sure enough, a fairy appears. It is Selena the Sleepover Fairy who is very unhappy because Jack Frost’s servants, the goblins, have stolen three of her objects vital to ensure a happy sleepover. She needs to recover The Magical Sleeping Bag, The Enchanted Games Bag and The Sleepover Snack Box as quickly as possible and return them to Fairyland. The girls offer to help Selena find them.

Daisy Meadows has created an enchanting storyline which maintains interest to the end. There is plenty of action and excitement as the girls set out to recover the lost items. Kirsty and Rachel are used to being transformed into fairy-size by a wave of a wand, and they are very good at solving problems and dealing with nasty goblins. Jack Frost gets his comeuppance, too! With such fun characters, it is no wonder that the Rainbow Magic series holds small girls in thrall. I was impressed by the full colour illustrations which add a lot more oomph than black and white drawings. The large font text is also a plus.

With each of the original stories available as Early Readers, junior fans of the series will be delighted at the feast of reading in store for them.

Jessie the Lyrics Fairy (Rainbow Magic: The Pop Star Fairies)

 Jessie the Lyrics Fairy (Rainbow Magic: The Pop Star Fairies) by Daisy Meadows (Orchard/Hachette)
PB RRP $9.99
ISBN 978 1 40831 5897
Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

This is the latest addition to the number one bestselling girls' series, Rainbow Magic. Over 26 million copies have sold worldwide. In each story, Kirsty Tate and Rachel Walker have an adventure which features a particular fairy. The bright covers are very attractive, and the stories will appeal to girls in the six to 10 years range. Jessie the Lyrics Fairy is the first book in the Pop Star Fairy series.

When Kirsty and Rachel arrive at the Rainspell Island Music Festival, they meet up with their pop group friends, The Angels who are the opening act. Later, while helping Rachel's parents set up the tent in the camping area, the pair suddenly spot Destiny the Pop Star Fairy, whose magic ensures that pop concerts go perfectly.

The Fairyland Music Festival coincides with the human pop festival, and Destiny invites the girls to attend. Delighted to accept, the girls are covered in magic dust from Destiny's wand and become fairies. In Fairyland, they meet the other Pop Star Fairies - Jessie the Lyrics Fairy, Adele the Singing Coach Fairy, Vanessa the Dance Steps Fairy, Miley the Stylist Fairy, Frankie the Make-up Fairy, Rochelle the Star Spotter Fairy and Una the Concert Fairy. However, the fairies seem worried and distracted, and when the rehearsal begins, the Pop Star Fairies perform badly and can't keep in step or in tune.

Kirsty and Rachel ask Destiny what is wrong and she tells them that the magic music clefs the fairies wear around their necks to ensure their performances go well are missing.

The clefs have been stolen by Jack Frost and his goblins. Jack Frost is planning to be the biggest star at the Rainspell Festival. Returning to Rainspell Island, the girls attend The Angels' rehearsal. The pop group are not performing well, either. It is up to the girls to get back the clefs so that both festivals are a success.

Will Kirsty and Rachel be able to retrieve each fairy's musical clef?

Written in an easy-to-read style supported by black and white drawings, Jessie the Lyrics Fairy with its pop festival background is sure to be a hit. Another six books complete the Pop Star Fairies series which is good news for fans.