A family arrive at the beach and lie down their towels. There are sandcastles to build and feathers and sticks to find. There is a pelican and seagulls. Of course we all love to eat chips. They ride their boogie boards in on the waves and discover boats and rays. As the sun goes down the sky puts on a dazzling display as they pack up and head home. But back at the beach as the moon rises ‘and the sea wildly waves, the sand sprites sneak out of their fairy beach caves’.
Throughout the night these beautiful fairies glide on sea birds, play among the deserted dunes, splashing in the waves and dancing on the tide. They climb upon the sandcastles the children have built and use cuttlefish as surfboards. ‘They fly fairy kites. And footloose and carefree, they frolic all night.’ All salty and tired as the moonlight bids farewell ‘to the beds they do creep. So, when daylight comes knocking, you won’t hear a peep’.
Fairy Beach inspires the imagination as to what might be happening on the beach at night after you go home from a day of fun. This whimsical story bounces along in rhyme, putting a smile on your face as you read. Jennifer Falkner’s illustrations are just beautiful, warm and gentle, yet fun and full of emotion. The joyful antics and faces of the fairies make you want to join in.
It’s lovely to have a tale of fairies set at the beach, just ready for summer. A tale to be read aloud at night to inspire someone’s dreams. I’ll certainly be looking under shells at the beach hoping to find a friendly sprite.
Reviewed by Emily Ross
Age Guide 2+
Read an interview with Sheila Knaggs about Fairy Beach
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sheila Knaggs was born in Liverpool, England, and spent her childhood years growing up on the Isle of Man, an idyllic little island in the middle of the Irish Sea, famous for its motorbike races and its cats with no tails, and where it is still considered most unlucky to cross the fairy bridge without saying hello to the fairies. When she was 15, her family emigrated to Melbourne, where she instantly fell head-over-heels in love with Australia.
her call to writing began many years ago, fuelled by empathy and a desperate desire to help ease the pain of those suffering the loss of a loved one. Over the years, she has spent much of my spare time writing heartfelt and inspirational verse. Her poems have been purchased as memorial, graduation, and wedding gifts, across the globe.
She is now married with four adult children and is blessed to call the beautiful Mornington Peninsula, home. She spent 13 years working at a local primary school as an Education Support Officer (Integration Aide) supporting children with additional learning needs. Working with these gorgeous young people every day, inspired her on her journey to becoming a children’s author.
She currently works in disability support and hopes to spend more time writing stories that inspire and touch hearts.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Jennifer’s work is inspired by a passion for Australian flora and fauna, and a childhood playing and exploring the beach and the bush in Western Australia. With a background in graphic design, Jennifer’s early career was spent at Block, a boutique agency where she worked on brands such as the Perth International Arts Festival, Zekka, Rosendorffs, 3Sports, and Filmtecknara. In 2009, Jennifer founded Formosa, a venture that successfully blended Jennifer’s passions for textile design of Australian flora and fauna with her commitment to social and environmental justice.
Formosa grew into a triple bottom line business manufacturing handbags and homewares stocked in over 100 stores across Australia. In more recent years Jennifer has juggled motherhood and a growing body of work in illustration for children.
Before returning to Perth in 2018, Jennifer lived and worked in Canberra, Bangkok, Jakarta and Singapore.
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