OLD THOMAS AND THE LITTLE FAIRY

Grades 2-4--A poetic yet rather dark story about an old fisherman, soured on the world, who finds a tiny fairy on the beach and saves her life. In a few spare sentences, their relationship is sketched, as the old man gradually changes and reenters the world. He begins to notice nature with pleasure again, to fish once more in order to feed his friend, and to play the accordion while she dances. Trouble intrudes when a wild dog threatens the miniature child. Thomas drives the animal away but is fatally wounded; he dies no longer angry at the world and happy in the knowledge that his fairy is safe. This strange, haunting story is accompanied by stark, strongly rendered oil paintings, every one a work of art, done in somber black, browns, blues, and grays. They complement the text well, stripping each scene down to essentials. The depiction of old Thomas is memorable. He dominates the pages, though sometimes it's only a part of him that's depicted extra large to emphasize the size difference between him and the fairy. One of the pictures of the huge wild dog menacing the fairy is quite frightening, and the subject itself is rather esoteric. Not an essential addition, but an interesting one for a limited audience.