The Counterpane Fairy

by Katharine Pyle

A little boy, recuperating from a lengthy illness, is entertained by visits from the Counterpane Fairy, who treats him to stories associated with each of the squares in the counterpane (quilt) on his sickbed. She has him concentrate on one of the squares until it turns into something like a doorway into the story. Once inside the story, he becomes its lead character until it fades out as if he's awakening from a dream.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Fiction, Fairy Tales

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1898

About the author

Katharine Pyle was an American artist, poet, and children's writer. She was educated at the Women's Industrial School and the Drexel Institute, then studied at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women and the New York Art Students' League. She lived in Wilmington her whole life, except for several years in Boston and New York in the 1890s and 1900s.

Over the course of her career she wrote over 30 books and illustrated the books of others. Her art and poetry appeared in Ladies' Home Journal, The Atlantic Monthly, St. Nicholas, The Circle, Shooter's Guide, The Saturday Evening Post, Metropolitan Magazine, Youth's Companion, Woman's Home Companion, Harper's Bazaar, and Harper's Young People. She co-authored a collection of 24 whimsical stories entitled The Wonder Clock (1888), with her brother Howard Pyle. Her art was also exhibited at the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893.

The Delaware Art Museum has a substantial collection of her manuscripts.

Her mother was author M.C. Pyle. Her sister-in-law was Ellen Bernard Thompson Pyle.

Librarian note: This author's name is often misspelled as Katherine.

Reviews

[Jean]

Libravox Recording. It gives good beginning to stories that I enjoy writing more complicated plot lines.

[Lynn]

This is an incredible glimpse into the late 1800s and early 1900s where disease had to be fought off without antibiotics, etc. The stories told by the Counterpane Fairy to this very sick child are universally enjoyable. The stories bring magic to everyone. This is what dreams and fantasies are made of! I'm glad it was reproduced so it could be shared, always!

[Dara Vaughn]

I loved this story so much, I read this book several times as a child. It is an imaginative, engaging and entertaining tale about an ill child who is unexpectedly visited by the Counterpane fairy that takes the child and the reader on several magical journeys.

[Dawn]

I just thought of this book from my childhood. I LOVED it. I just bought a copy. The concept of a story for each square of a patchwork quilt enthralled me. I could see all the colors described. I have a vivid visual memory of the stories.