The Night Fairy, written by Laura Amy Schlitz and illustrated by Angela Barrett. Candlewick Press, Random House. 2012. $20.00 ages 6 and up

"A tiny green light appeared above the grass. Then another. The lightning bugs were rising. One by one they lit their lamps and floated toward the sky. Flory gazed at them, rapt. All at once she realized how homesick she had been for the night. She was not sleepy. She had been up  since dawn, but she knew she would have no trouble staying awake."
Flory is a night fairy with a problem. One night while flying, a bat injures her wings and she can no longer fly. She is forced to use a tiny birdhouse for protection and shelter. As she watches, she sees all the wonder of the daytime world. The yard belongs to a giantess who leaves food for birds and squirrels, sugar syrup for hummingbirds and solace for every creature who makes its home there.

Young children who love fairies and fantasy will find delight in this beautifully illustrated tiny package.  Flory is tenacious, yet struggling to make sense of her new surroundings. She works hard to make a place for herself there. She befriends a squirrel, worries about bats, protects two tiny hummingbird eggs, and rescues their mother from a spider's web. Her magic protects her and proves useful when she is trying to help others. She eventually opens her heart to forgiveness.

The lovely, soft illustrations add another element of beauty, making Flory live for her audience and giving a clear and lovely look at her new environment.