Betty Bib's Fairy Handbook: A Field Guide to Fairies And Their Habitats

by Betty Bib, Lesley Buckingham (Illustrator)

Provides information on fairies, such as where they sleep, what kinds there are, where they live, and how to attract them.

72 pages, Hardcover

First published October 5, 2005

About the author

Betty Bib collected her first fairy wand at the age of seven and, with it, her talent for spotting fairies and understanding their ways. As an ambassador for P.U.F.F. (Promoting Understanding of Fairy Folk), she travels the world giving lectures on fairy appreciation and protection. Betty lives in a secret location, somewhere in the English countryside, with her dog Dorking, her cat Pastry, and a vast collection of fairy memorabilia. Her other hobbies include deep sea diving and crochet.

Betty Bib, aka Lesley Buckingham "lives in the fertile glades of the English countryside where the enchanting surroundings of her garden studio permeate her illustration work, textiles and model making."

She says "Although trained in textiles my work has always had a very pictorial quality and on leaving college in the 1980's I found myself working as a freelance illustrator as well as an embroiderer and the process of juggling the two fields began.

My illustration clients have included, Barclays, Sainsbury's, Radio TImes, Penguin Books, women's magazines and even Disney (a huge billboard advertising Disneyland that unfortunately didn't get printed.) I am a member of the Central Illustration Agency in London.

My textile pieces have been shown in Liberty's, galleries and shops across the UK and in Takashimaya department stores across Japan

About twelve years ago I adapted a small egg cosy I was making into a fairy for the top of the christmas tree and my obsession with fairies was born! They have been through many adaptations from pipe-cleaner legs with button feet to dresses made from petals and pods, through to the finer and tinier creatures I make today... My remit is to always conjour up magic in every piece I make.

In 1999 I was given the opportunity by Duncan Baird publishers to bring both my painting and craft skills together in the form of the Betty Bib Fairy Books, Cards and Journals which I both wrote and illustrated with water colours and photographs of the 3-D fairies."

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this from Annie for Easter and it is darling!!! I'm so enjoying reading all the charming little facts about fairies and, of course, seeing the sweet, sweet artwork. The "real" fairies are an especial treat, as they would appear (to such inexperienced folk as myself) to be made from fabric and lace and sequins and buttons and all other manner of enchanting needlework. Such fun! Overall, I loved the book. I think that, for its purpose, it was wonderful and thus the five stars though I would take off half a star because I felt that occasionally the author became just a hint didactic and it fit in rather clumsily and it could make some children sad to think of a fairy getting stuck in a piece of gum, or becoming endangered because we no longer send "Thank You" cards. However, overall, the sweetness and magic of the book reign supreme and the "real" fairies are just sooo adorable and fun. Also, the selection of fairies is just perfectly suited to my tastes--holiday fairies, tea-time fairies, seasonal fairies, flower fairies, even Air-Mail fairies! It's also cute how she explains certain things that happen to be the work of fairies (i.e., how holes mysteriously tend to appear in socks--it's the work of the mischievous sock fairies who like to play inside socks!)

[Larissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fairies come in all shapes and sizes and their moods are as varied as yours and mine. Though fond of nature and sweets and laughter there are also fairies that live under your very nose. Either causing mischief or helping out round the home as they so desire, for the most part fairies go about unseen, though occasionally you may feel there presence. When socks go missing, cakes are baked, surfaces are found clean or else powdered footprints are discovered in miniature, you can be sure that fairies are near.

Betty Bib's Fairy Handbook is a detailed guide to all things fairy. As an ambassador for PUFF (Promoting Understanding of Fairy Folk) the author has delivered a comprehensive, sensitive and enjoyable guide to the fairy world detailing the lives, looks and sleeping habits of fairies. Not to mention a greater understanding of these elusive folk and how we might better attract fairies into our everyday lives. A beautifully whimsical guide filled with illustrations and photos to enjoy and ponder.

[Lea Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

My daughter brought this book home from the library and I couldn't resist reading it myself. It is a cute collection of information and advice on all thing fairy. I especially thought the art in this book - the illustrations and photographs of handcrafted fairies - was thoroughly enchanting.