THE NIGHT FAIRY

Flory is a night fairy, but in an accident with a bat she injures her wings and is forced to take refuge in a birdhouse. From that vantage she discovers the delights of daytime in what turns out to be the backyard of a bird-loving white-haired lady. This small and appealing illustrated package will be an easy sell to young readers who want anything about fairies, but it is not of the caliber buyers might expect when they shell out for a Newbery author’s next. It reeks of a publisher needing to capitalize on an author’s recent award, before that author is ready to deliver the goods. Though the intimate scenes with only lightly anthropomorphized garden animals are delightful, there’s no compelling arc in the narrative or characters. It is harmless fun but forgettable. If you can’t have too many fairy books for this age set, this is fine. If you’re looking for Schlitz’s next, wait for the Victorian Gothic she has hinted at. Just be patient. (Barrett’s final illustrations not seen.) (Fairy fantasy. 6-8)