Tiny Jenny: Little Fairy, Big Trouble

Briony May Smith graduated from Falmouth University with a First Class degree in Illustration. Since then, she has been shortlisted for the British Comic Awards and has been twice highly commended for the Macmillan Children’s Prize. She is the author-illustrator of A Practical Present for Philippa Pheasant, Margaret's Unicorn and The Mermaid Moon, and the illustrator of Tooth Fairy in Training and Witch in Training, both written by Michelle Robinson. She is inspired by traditional fairy tales and folklore, and by the farm she lives on in Devon. Find her online at brionymaysmith.com and on Twitter and Instagram as @BrionyMaySmith.

Although this is a somewhat wordy story that destroys many of the beliefs that young readers may have had about fairies, nevertheless, the illustrations alone will take them and their imaginations deep into the undergrowth of the woods where everyone knows little creatures dwell and unseen magic happens, providing the perfect setting for making up their own stories. This would be an excellent story to use as a springboard for an investigation into stereotypes. preconceptions and prejudice. Present it with the cover wrapped in brown paper and have students draw their image of a fairy as well as some descriptors and then compare those to Smith’s depiction. As you share the story, talk about whether Tiny Jenny is naughty as she grows more independent, and then once she discovers the fairy family, pause and have them predict what will happen based on the fairy stories they have read. Then, having finished the story, discuss how their preconceptions were challenged and extend this into the real world… Build on the elements of text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world to show how stories, even those about fantasy creatures such as fairies, can have a real place in teaching us about ourselves and our worlds, as well as how authors use fantasy characters to hold a mirror to our lives. Much more to this one than meets the eye… and worth seeking out the author’s other stories Mermaid Moon and Margaret’s Unicorn.