UNFAIRIES

Failing up isn’t just for mediocre humans; sometimes it happens to fairies, too.

Pip, “a little lost fairy” with light skin and a mop of curly red hair, has a split-second attention span and a penchant for mischief. As Pip's story unfolds—told by a mostly unseen narrator—our hero stumbles from a job in the Root Stores of Oakhold, the Tree Fairies’ ancient arboreal home, into an adventure that ultimately leads to a position of power within the fairy world. Along the way, Pip encounters larger-than-fairy spiders, seemingly vandalistic cult members, and hungry wildlife who are happy to snack on a fairy or two. Thankfully, Pip is helped along the way by a mishmash of fellow fairies, including green-skinned Twiglet Treekin (an Imperial Treeguard trainee) and bespectacled, brown-skinned Stickler Treekin (a rule-following bureaucrat). Fast-paced and more than a little chaotic, the story will win over readers who love broad humor and zany antics. Like the text, the illustrations are jampacked with over-the-top humor that will have kids poring over the pages to locate small details. Although Pip’s mission is (eventually) successful, an unexpected surprise at the end sets things up for a sequel. Aaron’s energetic art coupled with Dall’Aglio’s rich color palette, which combines earthy tones with refreshing greens and luminous yellows, together bring this irreverent and lively community to life.

Topsy-turvy, chaos-filled fun.