Here Comes the Flower Girl!

The Very Fairy Princess

by Julie Andrews Edwards, Emma Walton Hamilton, Christine Davenier

Gerry is asked to be the flower girl in Aunt Sue's wedding, and she couldn't be more excited. Her imagination runs wild with thoughts of extravagant decorations, a billowy white gown, and hundreds of guests. When she finds out the bride prefers a small celebration, Gerry can't help but be disappointed... but she soon realizes that having the wedding in her own backyard will let her put her creative stamp on everything. Even when disaster strikes in the form of rain on the big day, Gerry finds a way to bring sunshine to the party, reminding everyone that the most important thing at a wedding is the most special sparkle of all - happiness and love.

Christine Davenier's whimsically elegant illustrations include lush garden scenes and plenty of wedding flowers in this spirited follow-up to The Very Fairy Princess and The Very Fairy Princess Takes the Stage from the renowned mother-daughter team.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Princesses, Family, Fantasy, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 17, 2012

About the author

Dame Julie Elizabeth Andrews Edwards, DBE is an award-winning English actress, singer, author and cultural icon. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honours. Andrews rose to prominence after starring in Broadway musicals such as My Fair Lady and Camelot, as well as musical films like Mary Poppins (1964) and The Sound of Music (1965).

Reviews

[Brett Axel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love a book by Mary Poppins! It wasn't bad, it did have a great page where the girl is told why we don't throw rice at weddings anymore and she says that exploding birds can ruin a wedding. too few children's books recognize children's ability to catch funny understatement. my little guy roared with laughter. Still, it wasn't a book I'd want to keep or go out of my way to read to another child.

[Khari · Rating 4 out of 5]

It takes a lot of people working in concert to produce a children's book. That's what I come away with.

I think this series is pretty cute. The asides that the little girl uses to convince herself to adjust her behavior are hysterically funny to me. The way her family manipulate her by appealing to her fairyness is also pretty funny.

I guess I would just say this is a wholesome little story about a little girl loving her family and them loving her back. It's cute.

Story: Narrative
Art: Meh
Price: $16.99

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hear that Julie Andrews' chapter book is really very good. This series is a terrible spawn rendered from the remnants of a crummy Pinkalicious book. Also, the main character shares the same mission statement of www.icanhascheezburger.com: "I try to make someone smile at least once a day." I'd take Ugliest Tattoos over this book every time. (ugliesttattoos.failblog.org)

An extra star for referencing birds exploding from eating rice.

[Goddess of Chaos · Rating 4 out of 5]

the Very Fairy Princess learns what makes a day special…

This sweet book may look to be about a little girl going overboard trying to make a day special, but really it is about her learning what truly makes the day special. Fancy dresses with over the top decorations may be fun to dream about, but the true personalities of the bride, and her flower girl, shine through as they walk down the aisle.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Geraldine is a fairy princess, complete with wings. She is asked to be the flower girl in the upcoming wedding and decides she knows just how to help make the wedding the most special of all. She practices a special petal toss, makes signs, and goes all out to make the backyard wedding all that it can be.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story of a little princess who gets to the the flower girl at her aunt's wedding. She wants to make sure everything is fairied up right with just enough glitter, and multi flavored cake. Everything must be perfect. Plus she knows that “exploding birds can RUIN a wedding. A lovely book with lovely illustrations.

[Sadie-Jane Huff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes ... THE Julie Andrews. So how could I not pick this up.

I was searching for her memoirs but it has been long week.

I then chanced upon this and I'm going to read them all

OMG this lil girl is so extra I love herrrrrr.. so much drama, so much celebration, so much happy happy joy joy.

LOVE It

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend this Julie Andrews series for little girls who like princesses. This is a girl who is sensitive to the needs of others instead of self-centered, and that's the good kind of role model our girls need!!!

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Very Fairy Princesses Aunt is getting married and she is going to be the flower girl. Can she handle it? Preschool and up

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a come down. Supposedly.

Gerry is invited to be the Flower Girl in a wedding, which isn't as big a part as she's used to.

Will she still find a way to put her creative stamp on everything?

I do my best princess walk, scattering
my rose petals in graceful arcs.

Even at a wedding, this prima donna acts like the star performer. Everything she does, everywhere she goes, Gerry lives in her fantasy world... as a star performer.

If this little girl didn't incessantly wear cute little girly-clothes, plus her "crown" -- she might look quite a lot like a pint-sized monster.

However, in honor of those who aspire to be happy in this particular way, they're the audience for this book, not me. So FIVE STARS.

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very fairy princess learns to compromise.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another favorite for me!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute!

[Ice 9 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really don't remember this book so read my review at: http://letterstocassiandotherfolks.bl...

[Annabelle Dierks · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a very cute book although I think parts of it give unreasonable expectations for a little girl that's preparing to be a flower girl.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this one as much as the others in this series, although it was very cute. Loved the illustrations and the storyline.

[Nadina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. I feel princess-y girls would enjoy it but for me the artwork just didn't do it and the story was simply average.
Not a book I would bring to mind right away to recommend to others.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series has cute illustrations! The story shows children how to make the best of difficult situations with a positive attitude!

[Beverly Oates]

Cute!

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

The little girl in this book believes she is a Princess; and with being a Princess she feels like it's her duty to spread happiness and cheer in everything she does. Having good manors and being nice is a must. (A very good lesson to teach children reading-listening to this book) She learns she will be a flower girl in her aunts wedding and looks forward to wearing layers and layers of ruffles and sparkles etc. but she ends up wearing just a plain eyelet dress BUT her aunt lets her wear her tiara and her princess wings in the wedding. So even though her ideas were upset by reality not being what she thought it should, she took the situation and made a good day out of it instead of being upset and angry. Again good lessons to be taught to young children.

[Jessica Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review at Cracking the Cover

Written by the mother-daughter team of Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton, this follow-up to “The Very Fairy Princess” and “The Very Fairy Princess Takes the Stage” is lots of fun. The idea of sharing a sparkle through actions instead of things is spot on for young readers.

Christine Davenier’s whimsical illustrations really bring the story to life — I love the energetic leaps and twirls depicted as Gerry practices “walking” down the aisle. And Gerry’s enthusiasm is contagious. You can’t help but smile as you follow her adventures.

[Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter loves The Fairy Princess books, and really enjoyed this, though not quite as much as the others. It's still a cute story, and one she likes having read to her. In this particular book Gerry wants to make everything perfect for her Aunt's wedding. What could be more exciting for a Princess than to help with a wedding that will be in her own backyard. Despite not everything going as planned, Gerry still brings a bit of sunshine to what could have turned out to be a dreary day. Cute story and great illustrations. I think fans of this series will enjoy this one.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 4 out of 5]

We fell in love with the very fairy princess Gerry in the first book and are delighted to enjoy more time with her sparkily personality in this third book. Even if this is your first introduction to Gerry it is a great one. This is a great any time book. This would make a fabulous flower girl gift!

Thanks to LB Kids tor providing a copy tor review.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason little girls envision grand huge weddings. (I was never one of those little girls.) The little girl in this story has to re-think what a wedding can be like when her aunt decides to have a very simple non-sparkly wedding in their back yard. I really liked the message this book had, it was more about the commitment to be with another person than to have all the frills.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy these Very Fairy Princess books and this one did not disappoint. Of course, Julie Andrews is practically perfect in every way, so I'm not surprised. Gerry, the Very Fairy Princess, is more endearing than Fancy Nancy IMHO.

[Indira · Rating 3 out of 5]

After all my mom went through at the LA County book fair, along with the tiaras she got with this book, I wanted to like it more. A bit disappointed by the story line - celebrating heteronormative convention and princess culture. Bleh!

[Marya · Rating 3 out of 5]

No one wanted to read this book when it came in, and no one was very enthused with it. However, once I read it aloud, it turned out to be ok. This is the kind of book where the right reading voice makes or breaks it.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book just because of who the author was and was not disappointed. Wanted to see if it would be good for a six year old reader and it was. After I read it I gave it to her. She enjoyed the first one I gave to her so was glad I had picked this one up also. Will get more in the series.

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

My library labels this book as "sparkly" and I can definitely see why! The illustrations always make my inner girly-girl squeal. I do wish Gerry would grow up just a tad, though. She seems very self-centered.

[Jennifer Rummel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story about a little girl wanting to make people smile and add more sparkle to the world.