THE MAGIC COLORS OF SPARKLESHIRE

A young fairy dreams of bringing color to her world in middle-grade author Collen’s (Alicia Gets Ready for Adventure!, 2016) worldbuilding introduction to Sparkleshire, with illustrations by Trumble.

Young Fairy Jocelyn sees a brilliant, colorful light display in the sky, emanating from where Tooth Fairies leave for Earth. It turns out that the Fairies’ magic draws its power from bright colors, so all the color in Sparkleshire, where the Fairies live, is therefore muted and bland. Jocelyn wants to change this, so she convinces her mother to help her earn the right to wear the crown of Sparkleshire, upgrading her dream of merely becoming a Tooth Fairy to becoming the Fairy Queen. But in order to become queen, she must master the magic of every color, each of which symbolizes a Fairy’s “personal strength”: orange for daring, blue for loyalty, yellow for industry, green for ingenuity, red for humor, purple for dignity, and pink for hope. Jocelyn and her mother visit the Tooth Fairy Routing Dock, and Jocelyn is dazzled by the magic that surrounds her, beautifully portrayed in an illustration showing the colors reflecting in her eyes. She’s also delighted when her mother, in the proximity of so much magic, turns pink. The story ends with a hint of Jocelyn beginning her mission by spreading color around her, without her even seeming to notice. This conclusion leaves room for future tales about the young Fairy’s quest to become queen. The light emphasis on plot in this installment allows Collen to focus on exploring the fictional world of her middle-grade novels, and this also gives Trumble plenty of prompts to use gorgeous colors in his illustrations. These images brilliantly contrast the sepia-toned and magically active sections of Sparkleshire; the diverse cast of fairies, whose skin tones are nearly as multihued as their magic, is similarly welcome. The depiction of the loving relationship between Jocelyn and her mother, who fully supports her daughter’s ambitions, is also strong.

A fun, eye-catching title that’s sure to appeal to fans of fairy stories.