When twins, Luka and Leandra find an abandoned baby fairy at the bottom of their grandparent’s garden, they make it their mission to return her to the fairy world.
The twins are both imaginative and scientific, and enjoy photographing and observing animals in their backyard. They are avid readers and from information in a fairy folklore book and handwritten notes and maps, found inside the book and penned by their grandfather, the twins find the door into the Fairy Kingdom. Through information in the manual, they solve the problem of how to care for a new-born fairy. Together they commit themselves to nurture and take care of her until they can return her to the world in which she belongs. The little fairy, although very young and small demonstrates abilities and wisdom far beyond her age. Her human friends realise she is destined for greatness and the need to reunite her with her fairy kin becomes urgent.
A growing bond between themselves and the little fairy and a realisation that their grandfather, missing for two years, was the author of the journal and Fairy Manual, compel them to tell their grandmother, locate the door and shepherd the fairy safely into the fairy realm. They discover some of their own family history with the fairies that live in the garden which leads them to believe their grandfather is in the realm. Eventually meeting up with him, the twins are both shocked and excited, then saddened when Grandpa does not return with them to the human-world.
The appearance, in the Fairy Kingdom, of a malevolent being, Granwick the mischievous fairy driven by revenge, generates the need, not only for magical intervention but also courage, problem-solving and empathy when relating to friends and those who are not so friendly. The magical elements in the story have clearly defined rules and limitations, and act in the story in much the same way special skills and talents act in the human-world. Magical intervention is not relied on entirely to solve problems for the characters.
Luka and Leandra demonstrate abilities to be both logical and imaginative thinkers. The little fairy learns about consequences, accepts responsibility for her actions and through the help of her friends, discovers that she is truly both a fairy and a princess. Having both fairy-kinfolk and a human-family the three develop a deep and meaningful life-long bond. The Little Fairy, Princess Aliya, is now to learn all that she can about her fairy-kin and farewell her human-family, with a pledge to one day be reunited. The twins go back to their own home, agreeing to return and locate their grandfather.
Karen Dunsmore has worked as a teacher in Queensland, for more than three decades. Karen knew from a young age she wanted to be a writer, and after an extremely rewarding career, teaching primary school students, she decided it was time to leave full-time teaching and take the first step towards fulfilling her life-long dream to write children’s books. When she’s not writing, Karen can be found tending to and finding enchantment within the garden in her own backyard. Creativity mostly strikes close to home as her family, her four-legged friends and the children she has taught over the years continue to be shining lights of inspiration to her. Karen’s first work, Forever Fairies, is her debut novel and the first of many more adventures to come.
Grace Chen is a Sydney-based animator and illustrator with a passion for animals, nature and magical themes. She graduated with first-class honours at UNSW Art and Design and is now currently working in animation. Throughout her life, she has been inspired by colourful, heart-warming art which spans from the impressionists to Pixar. She hopes to convey a sense of wonder and joy through her own work.
* Highlights the relationships between grandparents and grandchildren, and between siblings.
* Explores teamwork in a fantasy world
.* Spellbinding illustrations give life to the unbelievable.
* Inspires sensitivity to others.
* A hero can come from an everyday place.
