Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child

Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child

3.75 of 5 stars 3.75  ·  rating details  ·  56 ratings  ·  18 reviews
From the creator of MAX--a PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Best Book--comes a whimsical reminder that a family of fairies can be found in the unlikeliest of places, if you have the time to look
Annabelle's dad has little time for fairies, which he assures her she won't find in the cement and the weeds of their urban backyard. But Annabelle has lots of time, so she keeps looking - even u...more
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published June 1st 2002 by Candlewick
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Randie
*Updated review.

Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child
Graham, Bob. (2002). Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.
Genre: Fantasy, Children’s Picture Book
Determined to find fairies, Annabelle searches for them outside in the weeds despite her father’s nay saying. Good thing too, because Annabelle soon finds a young boy fairy, Jethro Byrd. Jethro Byrd introduces her to the entire Byrd fairy family. Annabelle helps the family and invites them to come through the fence to join her family for t...more
Cheryl in CC NV
I loved this, as it brings magic out of traditional fantasy and into a world more familiar to most of us, one complete with 'cement and weeds.'

I loved the quiet everyday behaviors of the Annabelle's family in the background, and how she was allowed to crawl around with toy cars in the dirt (like a boy), and the fact that Jethro wore jeans and didn't like to be kissed by aunts (like a human). And I liked that the illustrations were bright and bold and still cute. In fact, sometimes the art was e...more
Crystal Marcos
Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child is a story of a little girl with a big imagination who believes in fairies. She meets the Byrds, a family of fairies who crashed their ice cream truck traveling to the Fairy Traveler's Picnic. My daughter is almost three and this is a perfect time to be reading the story to her. She has a very vivid imagination much like the Annabelle, the girl in the story.

My daughter's favorite part of the story was the tea party with the fairies. I think the pictures of cupcakes had...more
Kathryn
Love, love, love this story! Bob Graham is fast becoming one of my favorite children's book authors/illustrators. His "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate was one of my favorites last year. April and Esme Tooth Fairies is another adorable title. Graham said he was surprised to find himself writing about another flying family with Jethro Byrd, but he seemed very happy to be working with fairies again. In his author bio he notes, "To see fairies, you need time to spare, time to think about not too much at...more
Tara Mullan
Oct 20, 2011 Tara Mullan added it Recommends it for: 5-8 year olds
Annabelle was a lovely little girl who wanted so badly to meet a fiary. Annabelle’s dad had little time for fairies he told Annabelle she wouldn’t find fairies in cement and weeds. Annabelle looked every day, one Saturday she seen something bounce of the fence. She went through to see it, there she met a boy as big as her finger. Who are you? She said Jethro Bryde he replied, I am a fairy child. Next what Annabelle saw next was so amazing a family of fairy’s landed in her back garden they were i...more
Jack Kirby and the X-man
This book is a modern take on the fairy-at-the-bottom-of-the-garden story - with the garden being concrete with weeds overlooking the local service station, while the fairies are in the hamburger and ice-cream business. The plot beyond this initial premise is a little thin, and the text isn't exactly rip-roaringly exciting. The cartoon-esque illustrations are clear and fun.

When reading this aloud I couldn't help thinking of Jethro Gibbs from the TV show NCIS (even though this book was published...more
David
Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child by Bob Graham is a story of magic, faith and discovery as a girl discovers fairies in the concrete and weeds of her backyard.

Graham's detailed illustrations are done in watercolor and ink. They combine a contemporary urban city with the magic of a traveling fairy family. My favorite images are title page, ice cream truck assist, Annabelle meets the Byrds, fairy cakes and tea, Annabelle's family at tea, Annabelle receives a watch, truck takes off, and last two images.

Whil...more
Dolly
Apr 05, 2012 Dolly rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: parents reading with their children
This is an interesting book about the imagination and power of youthful wonder and belief. While Annabelle's mother and father are too old and busy to believe in and look for fairies, Annabelle is not. The story is entertaining and the characters reminded me of those from "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate and "The Trouble with Dogs..." Said Dad, also by Bob Graham. Overall, it was an entertaining story and we enjoyed reading it together.

This story was selected as one of the books for the April 2012...more
Lisa Vegan
Apr 29, 2012 Lisa Vegan rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: children who believe in fairies, children who like tea parties; Bob Graham fans
Recommended to Lisa by: Kathryn
A little heavy handed in the children can see things adults can’t message but I loved it anyway.

I love that the main fairy character is a boy. I love that the fairy family is as normal as family as Annabelle’s human family. And, yes, I did like that Annabelle and her little brother could see the fairies and fairy things and their parents could not. I also liked that while the human parents were clueless, they were supportive in their own way.

The illustrations are marvelous. The food looks really...more
NS- Sarah
This is an adorable story of Annabelle, a little girl who discovers a family of fairies. She introduces the Byrd Family to her family but her parents cannot see the fairies like she can. This story is another example of how only kids can see certain things because they believe in things like magic, fairies, or witches for example. It is a sweet story and I think I could like other fantasy stories, however this particular book is not a favorite of mine. I think this book would be particularly pop...more
Joey
I love reading pretty much anything that has to do with faeries and this is a cute story about a little girl named Annabelle who stumbles upon a family of fairies when they fall out of the sky in an ice cream truck. Annabelle helps them right the truck and then invites them to have tea and cake with her and her family. Only Annabelle and her baby brother can see the fairies though. While the story isn't the most exciting, the illustrations are very fun and well done.

A story about magic and the...more
Linda
Annabelle lives in a city, with concrete and weeds, but she is completely convinced that there are fairies out there. I'm with her - there has to be something beautiful around, or it's all just grey.

Enter the Byrd family. A mini human-looking family with fairy wings. They're just like us - only little - oh, and they have a magic flying hamburger van. Lucky things.

Our fairy hero is a normal boy (Yeah!) and our human hero is a normal girl (double Yeah!). So, with nothing particularly 'boyish' or '...more
June
May 16, 2012 June rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fairy fans
Recommended to June by: children's lit group - Mythological creatures
Shelves: picture-book, fairies
Annabelle has lots of time and finally discovers a boy fairy. She is able to help his family and invites them to tea. Even though her parents can't see them her mother makes camomile tea and fairy cakes. A quiet book about taking time and looking closely for things. I enjoyed the city environment and the fairy ice cream truck spewing flowers.
Barbara
multifacted story of child's belief in fairies, fully imagined. really captured my preschooler's imagination.
Ehbluemle Bluemle
Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child (Kate Greenaway Medal (Awards)) (2002)
Beverly
2002 Kate Greenaway Medal
Marisa
Sage says 5 stars, I say 4. This book had a nice story - not especially well written, though. The pictures are cute.
K.
Have we said yet how much we love Bob Graham?
Lisa Wright
Apr 08, 2013 Lisa Wright marked it as to-read
Igraine
Mar 10, 2013 Igraine marked it as bilderbuecher
Krissy
Feb 28, 2013 Krissy added it
Shelves: pull, stories-magic
Beji
Feb 03, 2013 Beji marked it as to-read
E R
Jan 24, 2013 E R marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: nsw-2013-k2
Christine
Jan 07, 2013 Christine marked it as to-read
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Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child (Paperback)
Jethro Byrde, Fairy Child (Paperback)
Jethro Byrde: Fairy Child
Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child
Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child

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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

An Australian children's author and illustrator. His books include Max, which won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Gold Award, Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child, which won the Kate Greenaway Medal, and "Let's Get A Pup!" Said Kate which won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
More about Bob Graham...
How to Heal a Broken Wing April and Esme Tooth Fairies "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate A Bus Called Heaven Dimity Dumpty: The Story of Humpty's Little Sister

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